Congressman’s Position on House Appropriations Committee Results in nearly $15 Million in Funding for Montana Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $14.89 million in funding for projects throughout the state, including $1.7 million for research conducted by the Water Research Foundation. The funding was included in the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.
"We may often take it for granted, but clean, safe drinking water does not happen by accident," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "There are dedicated professionals in our communities working to ensure our water supply is safe, and abundant. Ultimately, the primary benefactors of this funding are the residents of Montana. In fact, 80% of the drinking water in the U.S. is supplied by organizations that are Water Research Foundation members like Mountain Water Company in Missoula. Their on-going research projects helps us all. Foundation research is focused on today’s pressing needs, like water treatment, replacing aging infrastructure, and water use and energy independence."
The Water Research Foundation, based in Missoula, helps local water companies and districts supply safe, affordable drinking water to consumers nation-wide. Its work focuses on applied research for cost effective technologies to enhance drinking water technologies. It’s the largest drinking water research foundation in the world, and has sponsored research world-wide to make drinking water clean, affordable and available to the public.
"We’re particularly appreciative of Congressman Rehberg for his responsible and responsive efforts to fund this project," said Arvid ‘Butch’ Hiller, Vice President and General Manager of Mountain Water Company in Missoula. "This funding will be leveraged five times over by private contributions, and the real beneficiaries of the Water Research Foundation’s efforts are the rural areas and small utilities that are so prominent in Montana. They need the research and data the most, and can least afford to do it on their own."
