In a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) is urging the new administration to make water infrastructure investment a key priority in the coming years.

The letter also elevates the issues of cybersecurity, source water protection, the energy-water nexus, affordability and the importance of sound science to guide regulatory actions.

Specifically, AWWA recommends:

— making water infrastructure a top priority while continuing strong support for the state-revolving loans and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), and AWWA encouraged the Trump Administration to remove red tape from WIFIA and enable the program to fully realize its capacity to make $3.35 billion in loans available with just a $50 million investment;

— supporting a collaborative approach to cybersecurity while developing a more aggressive approach to cyber attacks, and supporting programs such as the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team;

— supporting water utilities being designated as first responders with a need-to-know status during emergency situations, and supporting programs that encourage communications between the agricultural and water sectors;

— supporting state and federal programs that encourage water utility energy efficiency;

— considering the full cost of community implementation when considering regulatory actions; and

— fully using the deliberative, science-based approach outlined in the Safe Drinking Water Act when setting health-protective standards for drinking water.

“AWWA looks forward to working with the new Administration on issues fundamental to providing safe drinking water to the American people, most notably water infrastructure financing and cybersecurity — two issues raised by President-Elect Trump in the campaign,” says Tracy Mehan, AWWA executive director of government affairs. “In addition, affordability and protection of our source waters are tremendous opportunities for progress over the next four years.”

A full copy of the letter is available here.