The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $23 million for water infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico.
EPA announced the funds from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for sanitary sewer systems in Caguas, Coamo, Jayuya, Naranjito and Orocovis in a Jan. 27 news release. The money is part of more than $78.4 million Puerto Rico will receive for additional water projects.
"When water infrastructure fails, it threatens people's health and the environment," EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said in the release. "This Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investment will improve the lives of Puerto Rico communities facing major water challenges. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a unique and historic opportunity to correct longstanding environmental and economic injustices across America. This funding will create jobs while upgrading the island’s aging water infrastructure."
The money will be used to plan, design and build eligible water quality improvement and protection projects located in the five targeted municipalities. EPA already has formally approved work plans for the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to proceed with the projects, according to the news release.
"This historic EPA grant is an important additional step to improve the quality of our waters by allowing the management of a series of polluting sources and renewing deteriorated infrastructure," Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Secretary Anais Vega Rodríguez said in the release. "Likewise, projects like these are truly essential for environmental protection and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the impacted regions. The close collaboration between EPA and the DNER to solve specific problems will continue with another series of projects during the next years."
