March 14, 2024

                                                                                                                            Contacts:

NEWS RELEASE:                                                                                                    Senator Robert Cowles – (608) 266-0484   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                       Representative Jessie Rodriguez – (608) 237-9121                                                        

Senator Cowles, Representative Rodriguez Excited to See

Cost-Saving Water Management Measure Signed into Law

MADISON – Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) released the following statement after the Governor signed Senate Bill 99 into law as 2023 Wisconsin Act 106:

“It’s important that we give our communities all the tools they need to effectively manage their sewerage systems, and Act 106 adds another to their toolbox,” Senator Cowles stated. “Letting local wastewater facilities access Clean Water Fund financing will save money for utilities and ratepayers alike, and help to remove wasteful spending on treating infiltration and inflow. I started learning about the issues of infiltration and inflow from meetings with NEW Water, and am glad to see this solution signed into law.”

“Infiltration and inflow reduction projects are among the most expensive challenges our sewerage utilities face,” began Representative Rodriguez. “Allowing access to the Clean Water Fund for these projects will benefit not only the utilities but ratepayers as well. About 350 sewerage utilities around our state may benefit from this bill being enacted.”

Act 106 allows for infiltration and inflow reduction efforts to be funded under the Clean Water Fund Program, a state financing program that offers below-market interest rates to municipal utilities. Reducing infiltration and inflow from excessive water or pollutants has proven to be one of the greatest – and most expensive – challenges facing wastewater treatment plants. However, under prior statutes, local wastewater facilities were not eligible for Clean Water Fund Program appropriations to reduce infiltration and inflow. This new Act allows for these bodies to claim these funds, easing the work of utility workers and saving ratepayers money statewide.

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