Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House today approved the Water Quality Investment Act, which makes key investments in improving water quality throughout the United States.  An essential part of the legislation reauthorizes of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund at $13.8 billion for the next five years.  The Fund was created in 1987, and provides low-interest loans to local communities for construction of wastewater treatment facilities and other water pollution abatement projects. 

"The Clean Water State Revolving Fund has been major source of funds to help the State of Hawaii develop water and wastewater capacity." said Representative Neil Abercrombie.  "In fact right now, Kauai County needs to expand the Waimea Wastewater Plant, which can only take in 300,000 gallons.  This is causing them to refuse some new sewer hookups because they're at 90% capacity.  The Clean Water grants could help them address their capacity problem."

Another section of the bill renews the Sewer Overflow Control Grants program, administered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The grants program helps cities and states offset some of the costs of rehabilitating sewer systems and preventing ruptures and overflows.

"These grants address a public health issue across the country, but nowhere more urgent than in Honolulu. We've seen firsthand what happens when an aging sewer system cannot keep up with demand," Abercrombie said. 

-30-