Sewage and Wastewater treatment facilities are fast deteriorating in the State of New York due to aging infrastructure and outdated technology.
The majority of the State’s residents rely on these facilities and if change doesn’t happen soon, State waters will likely become tainted.
However, some of New York’s top environmental agencies believe that the proposed 2015 budget does not even seriously consider the issue.
The New York Environment Report explains:
“Specifically, they are arguing that the state needs to create an “Infrastructure Bank” to assist local municipalities who have no way of raising the funds necessary to complete large water quality infrastructure projects.
How would an infrastructure bank be seeded? The state’s “windfall bank settlement” is mentioned as a possible source of funding for sewage and wastewater treatment projects.”
The environmental groups were happy that Governor Cuomo proposed using bank settlement funds to help seed an infrastructure bank, but are now frustrated with the governor’s change in plans as revealed in the new 2015 budget.
How should the State of New York move forward in addressing its infrastructure issues without suitable financial backing?
Inframanage.com notes that the question of funding infrastructure expenditure will be one that receives a lot of debate across the USA in the next few years.
Engineering organizations have noted significant backlogs of infrastructure renewals and construction across multiple infrastructure networks and types, and across all states and territories.
So this question will not just be one for the State of New York.
As with most complex issues it is likely the answer will involve multiple levels of government – Federal, State and Local, and multiple funding sources – Federal funds, State funds, Municipal and County Funds, Loans, Bonds, Fees and Changes and public-private partnerships – private funding sources.
On the expenditure side of the equation, infrastructure asset management practices and infrastructure asset management planning will guide and assist with the prioritization of expenditure programs.
PHOTO CREDIT: Central Park – New York USA by Karl Hipolito via permission.
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