American Rescue Plan Act & Water Infrastructure

This is an excerpt of the May 24, 2021 edition of What's Up With Water. Frank Picozzi, the mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island, wants $10 million to replace water and sewer pipes. In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards floated the idea of $300 million for water and sewer infrastructure. Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, meanwhile, is putting $250 million into upgrading his state’s water systems and connecting rural residents to clean drinking water. These potential investments are made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act, a coronavirus relief package that includes substantial sums for public works. President Biden is promoting a multitrillion-dollar standalone infrastructure bill — a proposal that includes over 100 billion dollars to remove lead pipes, upgrade rural water systems, and clean up toxic PFAS chemicals. But in the meantime, the American Rescue Plan Act is a windfall of its own. When lawmakers in Congress passed the $1.9 trillion rescue plan in March, they opened the public purse in a bid to stoke the economy and help the country recover from a deadly pandemic. In addition to stimulus checks and support for families with children, the act set aside $350 billion for states, cities, and tribal governments. The act allowed for state and local funds to be spent in several ways, including premium pay to essential workers, aid to businesses and households, and covering expenses incurred during the pandemic. The act also stated that funds can be used for “necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.” But what is a necessary investment?