Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates $46 Million Investment in Jobs, Safe Drinking Water in Canton
Publilshed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
CHICAGO (February 8, 2024) – Today in Canton, Ohio, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott celebrated a $46 million investment in the Canton Water Department. Through this investment, the Canton Water Department will ensure high-quality drinking water while creating dozens of good-paying, public-sector jobs operating and maintaining the system for decades to come.
“Public sector workers are the backbone of our nation’s water infrastructure, they ensure that communities have safe, reliable drinking water,” said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in water infrastructure are creating and sustaining a new generation of family supporting jobs in construction, operation, and maintenance.”
“Ensuring communities have access to clean and safe water is no small feat,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, communities like Canton, Ohio, are getting much needed funds to invest in their water infrastructure and the people who keep it all running smoothly.”
The city of Canton will use the $46 million to upgrade and modernize the Sugar Creek Water Treatment plant, which supplies more than half the community’s drinking water. Canton will make an additional $26 million investment when it constructs a critical new reservoir for collecting and storing safe drinking water and retrofits its service shop which houses essential equipment for ongoing operations.
“I was glad to welcome Deputy Administrator Pigott and President Saunders to Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to celebrate this $46 million investment which will repair and restore Canton’s water infrastructure. Outdated, aging water systems have been costly for our communities, resulting in higher costs for ratepayers and at worst, dangerous drinking water conditions. This investment will keep water rates affordable, protect our drinking water, and create good-paying, union jobs. Once again, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering real results and lowering costs for Northeast Ohioans,” said Rep. Emilia Sykes.
“I am proud that the skilled, dedicated workers at the Canton Water Department are members of the AFSCME family. They wake up every day focused on keeping Canton healthy and strong, ensuring that local residents have peace of mind every time they turn on the faucet. For them and for all 1.4 million AFSCME members, public service is a calling. For everything these everyday heroes do, they deserve respect. And respect means robust investment in their jobs and their workplaces. So, I am grateful to President Biden and a bipartisan majority in Congress for delivering on this promise, for understanding that infrastructure and infrastructure jobs are the lifeblood of communities across the country,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.
“The Ohio EPA is grateful to the City of Canton for its proactive approach in maintaining critical drinking water infrastructure and to its dedicated operators who provide clean, safe water to residents,” said Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel. “Under Governor DeWine’s leadership, we partner with Ohio communities like Canton to finance millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades through Ohio’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, which has received additional support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Projects such as these make Ohio the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
“The City of Canton is grateful for our relationship with our federal and state partners. The availability of outside funding helps to ensure our residents have access to clean and safe drinking water at an affordable cost,” said Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II.
Background
The Biden-Harris Administration and bipartisan Congressional action have delivered the single-largest investment in U.S. water infrastructure ever. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests more than $50 billion through EPA’s highly successful water infrastructure programs. With this funding, EPA, states, Tribes, and localities have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen and rebuild America’s water infrastructure. EPA is committed to ensuring that all communities, particularly disadvantaged and underserved communities, get their fair share of this federal water infrastructure investment. More information about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is available at www.epa.gov/infrastructure.
Read the full article at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-celebrates-46-million-investment-jobs-safe-drinking-water
