The Water Council of Milwaukee announced its support for President Barack Obama’s call for the creation of a Water Finance Center within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Water Finance Center would serve as a vital initiative to draw more public and private capital investment into water infrastructure projects, the council said.
With more than $600 billion in needed improvements for drinking water and wastewater systems, the implementation of the center will serve as an important first step in tackling the critical water infrastructure demands across the United States, the council said.
The nation is undergoing a “catastrophic water crisis” that is impacting its economy and the lives of its citizens, according to the council.
The center would bring together local and state governments with the private sector.
“The Water Council commends the Obama Administration for their stepping forward in proposing a worthy solution and is excited for the progression of this new chapter. For several decades Milwaukee has taken pro-active steps in addressing its infrastructure issues related to water management. The result has had a dramatic impact on reducing property damage and sewage overflows into Lake Michigan. The Water Council has been at the forefront of advocating for increased attention to investing critical resources and technology development that have an impact on solving our nation’s crumbling water infrastructure,” the center said.
After an October visit to The Water Council and the Global Water Center in Milwaukee, EPA Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy stated that “Milwaukee get it” when it comes to being a leader in water management and that the region ‘is going to be the freshwater capital of the world.’”
