Water Resources Planning in Urban Areas

Congress authorized the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate an Urban Studies Program late in fiscal year l972. This program provides a planning service conducted in coordination with local and state officials to address water resources problems in urban areas. The objective is to formulate alternative plans for solving the water resource problems which will have the effect of helping to solve other urban problems. These studies, which take 3 yr. to 4 yr. to complete, provide a Federal planning service with strong public involvement and participation by state and local interests and other Federal agencies. Traditional Corps projects resulting from the plans will be recommended to Congress for construction; wastewater treatment components will meet appropriate requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of l972 and be utilized by local interests in applying for construction grants administered by the EPA.