Bohlin Testifies Before Senate Committee

This article was originally published in the Rural Water Wire e-newsletter.

On July 10, the Alabama Rural Water Association's (ARWA) Board President Mark Bohlin testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy. The hearing, entitled "State of the Rural Infrastructure: Emergency Response, Recovery, and Resilience," spotlighted the critical issues facing small and rural water systems in the United States. During the hearing, Bohlin represented small and rural systems to advocate for Rural Development funding and Disaster and Emergency Preparedness funding.

Bohlin, who has been the general manager of the Perdido Bay Water, Sewer, and Fire Protection District in South Baldwin County since 1998, was chosen as an expert witness due to his extensive experience and achievements in managing rural water systems. Bohlin serves as president of the ARWA Board of Directors, where he represents 630,000 customers in the 9th District of Alabama. In this role, Bohlin has played a pivotal role in advocating for rural water systems across the state.

To begin his testimony, Bohlin expressed gratitude to the committee for their continued support of the USDA Rural Development Programs but also shared some of the concerns he has regarding rural systems receiving the funding they need.

"There is a sentiment that billions from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act will meet industry needs, but much of this funding benefits larger systems," Bohlin explained.

Predominantly rural states, like Alabama, benefit from a political landscape that directs more funds to rural areas. However, this may not be true in other states across the nation.

"It is critical to emphasize that these additional funds are not permanent and rural communities heavily depend on Rural Development to maintain and enhance their utilities and affordable services," Bohlin said.

In his written testimony, Bohlin described why smaller systems often struggle to secure funding. "These communities often lack the resources and capacity to compete with larger systems for funding, exacerbating the gap between their needs and the funds they receive. Ensuring adequate resources are allocated to these programs is vital to support the sustainability of and development of essential services in rural areas. Without sufficient funding, these communities face continued infrastructure deterioration and increased challenges in providing clean and safe water to their residents," he explained.

In addition to accessible funding, Bohlin highlighted other significant challenges faced by small and rural systems.

"Currently, we face challenges including PFAS treatment, cybersecurity upgrades, workforce development, and compliance with federal mandates like the Lead and Copper Rule," Bohlin said. "Inflation and supply chain issues also heavily impact small water utilities. We urge the committee to ensure USDA's Rural Development Program has the resources needed to help rural communities address these challenges now and into the future."

Next, Bohlin recounted the devastating impact of storms and hurricanes on his utility, particularly Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Sally (2020).

During Hurricane Ivan, Bohlin's utility struggled with limited resources and manpower. In contrast, during Hurricane Sally, Perdido Bay relied on the Alabama Rural Water Association for help and assistance.

"In cooperation with the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and other State Rural Water Associations, Alabama Rural Water Association brought in emergency response trailers, generators, and manpower," Bohlin said. "They set up a command center at my utility and coordinated with Alabama's Emergency Management Agency, deploying staff and resources to surrounding water and wastewater systems. Within a week, operations were restored to normal."

Bohlin pointed out that the limited assistance included with the Circuit Rider Program for disaster response is insufficient. He told the committee that without dedicated federal funding to expand emergency response efforts, NRWA and its State Rural Water Associations have often had to lead disaster response efforts at their own expense. Bohlin praised NRWA's establishment of its Emergency Response Committee, which aims to improve disaster response across the nation. He stressed to the committee that while disaster response is vital, precautions beforehand are just as critical.

"Preventative measures and post-disaster assistance are equally important," Bohlin said. "Having dedicated, on-site, and experienced full-time staff will greatly improve services for rural utilities. We're grateful that Congress responded with pending bipartisan legislation in both the House and Senate, Rural Water Systems Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act. If enacted, this approach will fund and authorize pre- and post-disaster activities."

Bohlin concluded his testimony with hope for the future of disaster response and emergency preparedness in small and rural utilities.

"In summary, I firmly believe that with additional federal authorities, effective collaboration, thoughtful planning, and mutual aid, we can address the challenges of emergencies and enhance the response, recovery, and resilience of rural water and wastewater systems nationwide," Bohlin said. "Our State Rural Water Associations stand ready to continue providing these services."

To listen to Bohlin's testimony, click here. His testimony begins at 49:28.