EPA URGING UTILITIES TO HIKE RATES FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

EPA officials are re-emphasizing the agency's philosophy that wastewater rates should reflect the full cost of wastewater treatment as an important component of efforts to achieve sustainable infrastructure. The push comes as Congress and others continue to express concern about the administration's limited fiscal year 2006 budget request for the clean water state revolving loan fund (SRF), which finances infrastructure projects. Industry consultants have also been encouraging wastewater treatment utilities to consider raising their rates, arguing that even though wastewater...