A new report from the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) provides an in-depth look at the funding challenges faced by state agencies responsible for implementing drinking water programs. The report, “Insufficient Resources for State Drinking Water Programs Threaten Public Health: An Analysis of the State Drinking Water Programs’ Resources and Needs,” documents an annual gap of more than $230 million in state funding needed to ensure that minimum administrative requirements are met. The annual funding gap balloons to over $300 million when considering the administrative costs required to meet more robust goals targeted by many states.
A separate document discusses an array of potential solutions to bridge state funding gaps, including increased federal and state appropriations, new or enhanced fee programs and increased flexibility in administering drinking water programs. The full report, recommendations document and other supporting materials are available for download on ASDWA’s website.