The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $78 million in funding for clean water infrastructure upgrades in the Pacific Southwest and other Pacific territories.
“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a recent news release from the agency. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”
The Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRFs) will be split between Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands, the release said. The announcement comes as part of the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda, which aims to strengthen water systems, mitigate pollution and improve energy and water efficiency.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 provides low-cost financing for local projects that will help protect public health by investing in clean water infrastructure upgrades through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law using the second wave of the $2.4 billion EPA funding announced in February. More than $3.2 billion will be provided to CWSRFs when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The investment involves building a clean-energy economy as well as addressing climate change and contaminants like per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
CWSRFs have been a key driver for water infrastructure investment for more than three decades by offering low-cost financing options for projects in communities nationwide, the release said. EPA funding for the loan programs is provided to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and as the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, the state’s CWSRF is recycled or “revolved” to make new loans to other recipients.
