June 27, 2025
The Honorable Tom Cole
Chairman, Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives
|2207 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Susan Collins
Chair, Committee on Appropriations
U.S. Senate
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Cole and Chair Collins:
The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments is an organization of 16 county and municipal governments in central Colorado that work collaboratively to develop solutions for issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. One of those issues is wastewater management, and we serve as the Designated Planning Agency for water quality for our region of El Paso, Park and Teller counties.
The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments works closely with 18 designated wastewater management agencies and drinking water providers in our region and is part of the permitting process for projects undertaken by those agencies through our Water Quality Management Committee. These agencies are collectively responsible for ensuring that wastewater is treated and discharged to the standards required by the Clean Water Act administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, for providing safe and clean drinking water to our communities, and for efficiently maintaining their facilities and infrastructure.
Our region collectively has more than $1.6 billion in identified needs that would be eligible for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Of those projects, approximately $1.03 billion would be from providers or jurisdictions with a ratepayer base greater than 100,000 people, allowing these entities greater flexibility in how to fund these projects. But the remaining $643 million would be from districts with limited means to affordably provide services to their residents, for example:
- Town of Ramah: $11.4 million in needs against a service area of 127 people ($89,763.78 per person)
- Florissant Water and Sanitation District: $12.4 million in needs against a service area of 220 people ($56,363.64 per person)
- Teller County: $44.5 million in needs against a service area of 300 people ($148,333.33 per person)
The reality of these and several other projects we’ve included as an attachment is that there is no feasible way to fund these projects without assistance at the federal level. This is why adequate and appropriate appropriations to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is critical for the long-term future of the residents in our region.
Federal funding for wastewater is a long practice in the United States and predates the establishment of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. In the 10 years before the creation of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, from 1977 through 1986, the federal government contributed 32% of total, annual spending on infrastructure through Title II grants of the Clean Water Act. In the last 10 years, the federal government contributed 8% via the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.[1] In the latest Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, the national need stands at $630 billion, which includes new categories from the last survey in 2012 for non-source point pollution and decentralized wastewater treatment systems, like septic systems. Even when comparing directly between the same categories of projects in the previous survey, there has been a 37% increase in needs.[2]
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund is a dedicated funding mechanism created by the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act that empowers states and communities to address water pollution and improve water quality through sustainable financing for essential infrastructure projects. The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments believes the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is a model example of fiscally responsible, effective and efficient federal-state-local partnerships. Since Congress established the State Revolving Fund, $52.4 billion in cumulative federal funding has generated $172 billion in financial assistance for water infrastructure projects, producing a combined return-on-investment of $3.28 for every $1 in federal funding.[3]
This low-cost financing is sometimes the only mechanism for smaller districts to pay for improvements for aging infrastructure or expansion. While the nature of the fund is that loans are repaid, and those repaid funds are later used for other needs, the demand far exceeds capacity and additional support is needed. Without continued appropriations, the needs will continue to grow and will increase the risks to a healthy environment to live, work and play.
Several of our water providers have used the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to great success to address their local needs:
- In the utility industry, our goal is to provide uninterrupted, cost-efficient service to our customers. Long-range forecasting and predictability are key to this mission, but sometimes there are unexpected shocks such as new environmental regulations forcing construction of costly new water and wastewater treatment plant. When Cherokee [Metropolitan District] was hit with a first-of-its-kind water quality regulation in 2010, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund was crucial to finance the improvements needed to meet it without dramatically raising rates on our customers.
- The Town of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, is a small rural community that has been looking for opportunities to expand its economy. The only prohibitor stopping this expansion to its economy is the basic need for waste [water] disposal. Without the Clean Water State Revolving Fund we would be prohibited from being able to serve our business owners and community.
- The Clean Water State Revolving Fund funded major upgrades and replacement at the Security Wastewater Treatment Facility, allowing us to continue meeting water quality standards and provide safe, clean water. Without the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, there is no way we could have funded this work on our own and would have greatly impaired our ability to treat wastewater.
The work of these local water providers through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is occurring despite no update to the allocation formula to states since it was established in 1987. Even if funding for Fiscal Year 2026 remained the same, Colorado would only receive half of what the Government Accountability Office is recommending based on its July 2024 report.[4] In addition to adequate and appropriate funding, it is also important for Congress to update the allocation formula to the states to send funds to where it is most needed.
The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments is in support of efforts to reduce government waste, fraud and abuse at all levels of government. We are proud that our member governments have worked collaboratively to fund innovative programs and initiatives that reduce overall spending while providing a higher value to our taxpayers. This organization, the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, and the programs it operates, is one of several examples in our region of resolving problems and issues. And it is because of this commitment to efficiency that we are concerned about the proposed cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. We share the thoughts provided to us by one of our wastewater providers:
“I am not exaggerating when I say that the proposed funding cuts make me feel terror. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund is crucial to keeping water and wastewater affordable, especially in shrinking and underprivileged communities.”
Clean water is a fundamental driver of economic vitality and national and local competitiveness. From attracting businesses and skilled workers to enabling innovation and resilient growth, access to safe and reliable water is essential for thriving economies. Regions with clean water and modern water infrastructure are better positioned to support economic development, sustain critical industries, and compete in a global marketplace. Without it, economic activity stalls, public costs rise, and communities are left behind.
We urge Congress to consider rejecting the President’s proposed reductions to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and instead take the lead in support of the clean water and environment that makes America great. We are eager to answer questions and provide supporting information to support this effort.
Sincerely,
Holly Williams
Commissioner, El Paso County, Colorado
Chair, Board of Directors, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Andrew Gunning
Executive Director, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Enclosure:
- Project eligibility list for El Paso, Park and Teller counties for Clean Water State Revolving Fund
cc:
The Honorable Robert Aderholt
The Honorable Pete Aguilar
The Honorable Mark Alford
The Honorable Mark Amodei
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
The Honorable Michael Bennet
The Honorable Stephanie Bice
The Honorable Sanford Bishop
The Honorable Lauren Boebert
The Honorable John Boozman
The Honorable Katie Britt
The Honorable Ken Calvert
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito
The Honorable John Carter
The Honorable Ed Case
The Honorable Juan Ciscomani
The Honorable Ben Cline
The Honorable Michael Cloud
The Honorable James Clyburn
The Honorable Andrew Clyde
The Honorable Christopher Coons
The Honorable Jeff Crank
The Honorable Henry Cuellar
The Honorable Madeleine Dean
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart
The Honorable Richard Durbin
The Honorable Chuck Edwards
The Honorable Jake Ellzey
The Honorable Veronica Escobar
The Honorable Adriano Espaillat
The Honorable Deb Fischer
The Honorable Charles Fleischmann
The Honorable Lois Frankel
The Honorable Scott Franklin
The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand
The Honorable Tony Gonzales
The Honorable Lindsey Graham
The Honorable Michael Guest
The Honorable Bill Hagerty
The Honorable Josh Harder
The Honorable Andy Harris
The Honorable Martin Heinrich
The Honorable John Hickenlooper
The Honorable Ashley Hinson
The Honorable John Hoeven
The Honorable Steny Hoyer
The Honorable Cindy Hyde-Smith
The Honorable Glenn Ivey
The Honorable David Joyce
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
The Honorable John Kennedy
The Honorable Nick LaLota
The Honorable Susie Lee
The Honorable Julia Letlow
The Honorable Mike Levin
The Honorable Celeste Maloy
The Honorable Betty McCollum
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
The Honorable Grace Meng
The Honorable Jeff Merkley
The Honorable John Moolenaar
The Honorable Riley Moore
The Honorable Jerry Moran
The Honorable Joseph Morelle
The Honorable Frank Mrvan
The Honorable Markwayne Mullin
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
The Honorable Chris Murphy
The Honorable Patty Murray
The Honorable Dan Newhouse
The Honorable John Ossoff
The Honorable Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
The Honorable Gary Peters
The Honorable Brittany Pettersen
The Honorable Chellie Pingree
The Honorable Mark Pocan
The Honorable Mike Quigley
The Honorable Jack Reed
The Honorable Guy Reschenthaler
The Honorable Harold Rogers
The Honorable Mike Rounds
The Honorable John Rutherford
The Honorable Brian Schatz
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen
The Honorable Michael Simpson
The Honorable Dale Strong
The Honorable Norma Torres
The Honorable Lauren Underwood
The Honorable David Valadao
The Honorable Chris Van Hollen
The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz
The Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman
The Honorable Steve Womack
The Honorable Ryan Zinke
[1] Congressional Research Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2026 President’s Budget Request: In Brief, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48575.
[2] Environmental Protection Agency, 2022 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey – Report to Congress, 2024, https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/2022-cwns-report-to-congress.pdf.
[3] Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Water State Revolving Fund 2023 Annual Report, https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-10/2023-cwsrf-annual-report.pdf.
[4] Government Accountability Office, Revolving Fund Grant Formula Could Better Reflect Infrastructure Needs, and EPA Could Improve Needs Estimate, https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106251.
Project eligibility list for El Paso, Park and Teller counties for Clean Water State Revolving Fund
| Entity | Estimated Cost | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Water and Sanitation District | $4,300,000 | 810 |
| Town of Alma | $12,000,000 | 290 |
| Bailey Water and Sanitation District | $7,000,000 | 300 |
| Town of Calhan | $41,850,000 | 795 |
| Cherokee Metropolitan District | $2,850,000 | 26,000 |
| Colorado Centre Metropolitan District | $17,500,000 | 3,400 |
| Colorado Springs Utilities | $674,346,475 | 500,000 |
| City of Colorado Springs | $223,005,000 | 465,000 |
| City of Cripple Creek | $37,500,000 | 1,250 |
| Divide MPC Metropolitan Districts 1 and 2 | $2,800,000 | 380 |
| Donala Water and Sanitation District | $46,750,000 | 9,120 |
| El Paso County | $110,000,000 | 755,000 |
| Ellicott Town Center Metropolitan District | $5,150,000 | 400 |
| Town of Fairplay | $1,530,000 | 734 |
| Falcon Highlands Metropolitan District | $2,750,000 | 900 |
| Florissant Water and Sanitation District | $12,400,000 | 220 |
| Forest Lakes Metropolitan District | $3,300,000 | 4,500 |
| Fountain Sanitation District | $51,000,000 | 24,000 |
| Lower Fountain Metropolitan Sewage Disposal District | $33,100,000 | 21,500 |
| City of Manitou Springs | $24,500,000 | 4,890 |
| Meridian Service Metropolitan District | $3,750,000 | 8,850 |
| Monument Sanitation District | $11,865,000 | 3,200 |
| Paint Brush Hills Metropolitan District | $2,650,000 | 3,250 |
| Palmer Lake Sanitation District | $14,680,000 | 2,893 |
| Town of Palmer Lake | $3,500,000 | 2,636 |
| Town of Ramah | $11,400,000 | 127 |
| Rock Creek Metropolitan District | $3,500,000 | 1,919 |
| Security Sanitation District | $46,550,000 | 22,000 |
| Stratmoor Hills Sanitation District | $3,950,000 | 6,500 |
| Teller County | $44,500,000 | 300 |
| Triview Metropolitan District | $21,800,000 | 120,000 |
| City of Victor | $15,670,000 | 400 |
| Widefield Water and Sanitation District | $92,000,000 | 24,428 |
| Will-O-Wisp Metropolitan District | $6,610,000 | 300 |
| City of Woodland Park | $1,500,000 | 8,500 |
| Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District | $50,500,000 | 13,350 |
| Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 | $13,900,000 | 10,928 |
| TOTAL | $1,671,306,475 |