$90 Million in Stimulus Monies Available for Water Services in Indian Country
This week, the EPA and IHS announced good news for tribal infrastructure: am infusion of $90 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be allocated to improve access to vital drinking water and wastewater services in Indian Country.
The funds will be invested in “shovel ready” water and sewer infrastructure projects, meaning those projects that have been planned and stand ready to be implemented, but are just waiting for the necessary funding. 159 such tribal projects have been identified – 95 wastewater projects and 64 drinking water projects. These projects will be completed by IHS’s Sanitation Facilities Construction Program and will help repair and upgrade critical reservation water and drinking water infrastructure such as wastewater lagoon systems, sewer lines, water tanks and pipes.
The funds are a much needed boost to Indian Country’s infrastructure. 2007 data from IHS reports that approximately 10% of tribal homes do not have safe drinking water and/or wastewater disposal facilities. That astonishing statistic – i.e., that 1 in 10 tribal homes don’t yet have safe or adequate water – compares with 0.6% of non-Native homes (1 in 60) that lack such basic infrastructure according to the U.S. Census in 2005.
The infusion of $90 million for tribal water and wastewater infrastructure programs represents a long overdue, significant federal effort to improve tribal access to proper drinking and wastewater. That cash infusion will also create new reservation jobs in the process.
Water, water, everywhere and hopefully there will finally be a drop for Indians to drink.
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