Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $39,230,000 to Georgia from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The funding will support Georgia communities in upgrading essential water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies. Nearly half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans helping underserved communities across America invest in water infrastructure, while creating good-paying jobs.
“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering an unprecedented investment in America that will revitalize essential water and wastewater infrastructure across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Not only will these funds expand access to clean water and safeguard the environment, but more underserved communities that have been left behind for far too long will be able to access them.”
“EPA’s contribution to the State Revolving Funds will enable more communities to make the investments needed to ensure improved water and wastewater infrastructure,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman. “These funds can create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects in the Southeast region.”
“Senator Warnock and I will continue delivering upgrades to enhance water quality and upgrade quality of life,” said U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. “Our bipartisan infrastructure law will deliver long-overdue upgrades to Georgia’s infrastructure for years to come. I thank President Biden, Administrator Regan, and Southeast Regional Administrator Blackman for their support.”
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Senator Ossoff and I helped get done, every corner of the state will get a much-needed boost to its water infrastructure,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “From the water our children drink to systems which prevent flood damage, these funds will improve public health and provide vital upgrades to neglected and poor infrastructure plaguing many underserved communities across the Peach State. I look forward to delivering even more federal resources from this law to benefit hardworking Georgians.”
Today’s announcement is part of the $2.4 billion announced as part of the second wave of funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to invest in America. In May 2022, EPA announced the initial allotment of $1.9 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to states, Tribes and territories through the CWSRF. That money is supporting hundreds of critical water infrastructure projects around the country.
In FY 2022, Georgia was awarded $31,673,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding to support state clean water and emerging containments infrastructure projects. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) proposed $3.5 million in BIL funding for Dalton Utilities treating wastewater effluent of the area’s carpet industry for a series of pilot projects to test the effectiveness of various PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) removal and destruction technologies to address persistent concerns associated from the emerging contaminants like PFAS.
GEFA is currently drafting its FY2022 CWSRF BIL General Supplement and emerging contaminants Intended Use Plan to address clean water infrastructure projects for Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements, Floodplain and Climate Resiliency and ground-breaking projects addressing emerging contaminants.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes over $50 billion available for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across the country between FY2022 and FY2026. EPA is committed to ensuring every community has access to this historic investment and has centralized increasing investment in disadvantaged communities within its implementation. This investment in water infrastructure is creating jobs while addressing key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law calls for strong collaboration, and EPA continues to work in partnership with states, Tribes, and territories to ensure that communities see the full benefits of this investment.
In addition to today’s announcement, the 2023 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund allocations and program updates are forthcoming, pending the release of the seventh Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment. EPA anticipates releasing the information in the coming weeks.
The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. For more information, including state-by-state allocation of 2023 funding, and a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/cwsrf .
Original source can be found here.
