Funding Infrastructure Projects

A common misconception is that the funding for infrastructure rehabilitation and repair comes from the federal government.  In actuality the funding burden falls on the local governments and is typically covered by operating expenses, water and sewer rate increases, or bond issues.  More and more often, municipalities must rely on rate increases to fund needed repairs.  The latest national figures reflect water rates as high as $5.00 per one thousand gallons in certain areas as cities finally address long needed infrastructure repairs and updgrades. 

Relative to its importance, water is very, very cheap: