Section 695.2 - Legislative findingsThe General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Pennsylvania has an estimated 2,200 drinking water systems and 1,060 wastewater systems.(2) Drinking water and wastewater treatment systems protect public health and the environment and are responsible for cleaning and treating waters of this Commonwealth.(3) Changing Federal and State regulations relative to the treatment of drinking water and wastewater are creating financial problems for drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.(4) Many of the drinking water and wastewater treatment systems must manage aging infrastructure, and the maintenance and replacement costs are estimated to be in excess of $18,000,000,000.(5) According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania ranks seventh in infrastructure financing needs for water infrastructure.(6) Additional funding sources are needed if Pennsylvania is to have a sustainable water infrastructure in the future.(7) The Governor signed executive order 2008-02, creating a water infrastructure task force to ensure that Pennsylvania maintains a sustainable drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.(8) It is beyond the financial means of local ratepayers to fund all the improvements that are needed for a sustainable drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.2008, July 9, P.L. 915, No. 64, § 2, imd. effective.