United Rentals, Greenwich, Conn.,will participate in a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 2010, to underscore the need for increased investment in the nation’s vital but deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure. The Capitol Hill briefing will focus on the establishment of a Clean Water Trust Fund that would provide a deficit-neutral funding mechanism to support water and wastewater projects.

Featured speakers include Paul McDonnell, senior vice president of United Rentals Trench Safety, Power and HVAC operations, along with elected officials, municipal leaders and industry stakeholders. United Rentals will participate in the event with the National Wildlife Federation, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Associated General Contractors of America and the Water Infrastructure Network.

McDonnell said, “America’s water infrastructure is in serious disrepair. The cost of making essential improvements is forecast to be up to $550 billion over the next 20 years. A Clean Water Trust Fund will help fund a safer, healthier infrastructure without further delay. As the leader in our industry, we feel it is important for United Rentals to support congressional efforts to upgrade our nation's critical infrastructure.”

A Clean Water Trust Fund would establish a fund for repairing America's corroded pipes and overburdened sewer systems, thus alleviating some of the burden on local communities. The fund would be used to protect vital sources of drinking water and improve wastewater infrastructure. It is estimated that investment in such water-related projects would create about 27,000 jobs per billion dollars spent.