Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rudy S. Chow, P.E., testified before a U.S. Senate Committee Thursday, April 7, 2016, calling for a strong federal role in helping to make water and wastewater infrastructure affordable.

Director Chow was testifying on behalf of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the WateReuse Association in addition to the City of Baltimore. A recent economic analysis by the two organizations found that every $1 million in state revolving fund spending results in $2.25 million in economic output, on average. This analysis serves as confirmation that investment in our water and wastewater infrastructure is exactly that: investment. The federal dollars put in to the state revolving funds have meaningful economic benefits beyond the value of providing reliable, safe drinking water and sewer systems.

He also mentioned that DPW has been able to reduce its capital expenses by utilizing $168,566,000 in low-interest loans, as well as $4.5 million in principal forgiveness loans, over the last three fiscal years. And he strongly urged Congress to expand funding for financing programs that help municipalities make critical infrastructure upgrades.

Director Chow noted the stress on Baltimore ratepayers as the City works to complete a Consent Decree to fix its sanitary sewer lines, build enhanced nutrient removal systems at its two wastewater treatment plants, build three enclosed reservoirs for its finished drinking water, and make improvements to its stormwater system. The combined price tag for these projects – all subject to federal or state regulations – is in the billions of dollars.

Baltimore’s median household income is just $40,000 per year, and 39 percent of its families make less than $30,000 per year.

Director Chow told the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee that he is looking for ways to minimize the financial impact of the necessary upgrades to the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure on DPW’s ratepayers.

“What this really comes down to is the need for increased funding assistance to communities to make the infrastructure investments they need to make,” he said.
Director Chow reiterated the support he gave on Monday, April 4, to Sen. Ben Cardin’s effort to increase funding for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs, when Cardin visited the Ashburton Water Filtration Plant.

A public engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, Director Chow came to Baltimore five years ago to head the Bureau of Water and Wastewater. Two years ago he was promoted to Director of DPW by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.