Freshwater Future Weekly: January 21, 2022
THIS WEEK: Contact Your Local Officials to Ensure Your Community Benefits from Recent Federal Investments in Water; Registration: All About Water Symposium, Securing Federal Infrastructure Dollars; Personal and Organizational Wellness Online Series 2022; Chemicals in Water Systems in Indiana Communities
Time is NOW – Contact Your Local Officials to Ensure Your Community Benefits from Recent Federal Investments in Water
With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last year, there is cause to be excited yet focused and vocal in anticipation of a one-time, 5-year program (2022-2026) that will increase the amount of grants and low-interest loans available to local governments, especially those considered disadvantaged communities, to fund lead service line replacements and other large water storage, treatment, and distribution upgrades. Because the process of securing funds can be daunting, especially for smaller communities, we encourage you to connect with your local officials to help ensure applications are being prepared and plans are being made to secure and utilize these funds for community needs. Find application deadlines and other information here.
Registration is Now Live: All About Water Symposium, Securing Federal Infrastructure Dollars
As promised, Freshwater Future and All About Water invite you to join experts, peer groups and municipal officials to learn about federal dollars that will be coming to states for water infrastructure projects, and how your municipality can benefit. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure funding through State Revolving Funds that are provided by Congress to help replace lead lines, update water and wastewater treatment plants, utilize green infrastructure to prevent or reduce flooding and more. REGISTER NOW!February 17th, 10:30 am – noon EST.
Personal and Organizational Wellness Online Series 2022
Water Watchers & Wellness is a FREE program designed to support individuals and organizations working to protect and restore water. This free online forum series is designed to help connect you to others doing similar work, provide you with expert and peer conversations about issues of importance to you, and offer one-on-one consulting assistance to help you speed past the bumps in the road we all experience in building, organizing and conducting our water work. Monthly forums are scheduled on the 4th Thursday of every month beginning January 27th, 2022, from 11:30am-1pm ET. Register today!
Toxic Forever Chemicals Found in Indiana Community Water Systems
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management recently detected PFAS chemicals in drinking water in several communities. Since the 1940s, PFAS chemicals have been used in nonstick cookware, fire retardants, flame and water-proof clothing, food wrappers, automotive and industrial applications, and stain prevention products. Scientific studies have linked PFAS to health impacts such as cancer, thyroid disease, weakened immunity, and other health problems. The Indiana communities where PFAS chemicals were detected are all downstream from potential industrial sources of chemical pollution. The situation in Indiana is similar to states across the country. These chemicals have gone undetected in drinking water for decades, and only when states and municipalities step up to conduct testing do communities become aware of the concerns. For more information and resources check out our PFAS resource page.