A Green Economy for Blue Water

November 14, 2008 | Clean Water, Floods & Floodplains, Greening Water Infrastructure

Katherine Baer
Senior Director, Clean Water Program

Economic recovery is on everyone’s minds and Congress is considering a stimulus package to jump start the process. Water infrastructure was included in an earlier House stimulus (that didn’t pass) to the tune of $6.5 billion dollars into the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. As we’ve said before, we need more money for clean water, but we also need to have it spent more smartly - we can’t keep on investing in the same old solutions and expect to see better results, especially given the challenges of global warming. 

Although much talk about the green economy is in the energy sector – the exact same applies to water. We need innovative 21st century solutions that use cost-effective, green infrastructure to prepare our communities for the changes we’ll see from global warming. At American Rivers, we’re recommending that at least 16% of any stimulus for water infrastructure be spent on green solutions.

Cities across the country are already finding that these solutions save money and reduce pollution and flooding. Indianapolis, for example, just announced that it is investing in green strategies to reduce sewer overflows – by planting trees, creating wetlands and disconnecting downspouts from sewer systems, the city will save more than $300 million by reducing the size of their new pipe from 33’ – 26’.

A green economy for clean water also creates good jobs and is a key part of short and long-term recovery efforts. In detailing a strategy for recovery that includes a recommendation of $3 billion for green water infrastructure, the Center for American Progress writes:

[n]ear-term green investments can immediately stimu­late the economy, move the country along the road toward economic recovery, create millions of good jobs, and put a solid down payment on the low-carbon future vital for our long-term economic growth.

Economic recovery and cleaner water – what’s not to like?

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