Questions are beginning to arise from states and localities about the requirements for spending the water infrastructure funds in the stimulus bill, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.rnSince Congress passed the bill in February, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has distributed $1.4 billion of the $4 billion the stimulus bill provided for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. States must commit 100 percent of their funds by Feb. 10, 2010.rnBut some states are uneasy about certain conditions for spending the funds. Chief among the sticky wickets is the "Buy American" provision. It states that construction companies must use U.S.-made iron, steel and manufactured goods on all sewer and drinking water projects funded with stimulus dollars.
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