WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 15, 2019) —The following statement was issued by Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects on the occasion of the signing into law of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (H.R. 7279). The new law provides flexibility to municipalities wishing to prioritize investments in wastewater and stormwater projects needed for Clean Water Act compliance and requires the EPA to promote the option of green infrastructure, which allows communities to use natural processes to infiltrate or reuse storm water runoff beneficially on-site where it is generated.
At a time when our nation’s infrastructure is rapidly deteriorating, the enactment of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act represents a significant step forward in helping communities use green infrastructure to meet critical water management goals, while protecting the health, safety, and well-being of their residents.
Thanks to the continued advocacy efforts of ASLA and its members, the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act is now law. Over the last decade landscape architects have been at the forefront of advocating for green infrastructure policies that improve community infrastructure, including water and stormwater management.
This bipartisan law provides flexibility and local autonomy for vital wastewater and stormwater projects, increasing the likelihood that green infrastructure principles will be put into practice throughout the country.
Landscape architects are prepared to help implement this law by working with municipalities to develop and design projects that safeguard our nation’s water supply. These green infrastructure projects will also stimulate the creation of well-paying jobs, and create public places that enhance the quality of community life.
