Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $25.5 million in grants through a new program aimed at supporting drinking water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities while mitigating the impacts of climate change. This marks the inaugural distribution of funds under the Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program, with 16 recipients selected from across the United States, ranging from Connecticut to Alaska.
“Across the country, climate stress is often felt as water stress that can burden a community’s drinking water infrastructure,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Bruno Pigott. “This new grant program, along with historic investments from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure and protect public health.”
Environmental justice and equity are central to EPA’s initiatives. This action supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative by investing in communities historically affected by environmental justice issues. The EPA plans to award these grants once legal and administrative requirements are met.
The 16 recipients include:
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough (Alaska): $332,000 for generator installation to protect against flooding, earthquakes, and severe weather.
- Saint Paul Island City (Alaska): $4,651,170 for emergency generators and infrastructure updates.
- Antelope Valley-East Kern (California): $559,760 for fuel trailers and a generator.
- City of Fresno (California): $3,700,214 for replacing failing water pipes.
- Indian Wells Valley (California): $2,790,000 for water supply enhancement efforts.
- St. Charles Mesa Water District (Colorado): $175,158 for installing a waterline.
- Connecticut Department of Public Health (Connecticut): $556,000 for constructing an emergency waterline and pumping station.
- City of Fargo (Georgia): $570,000 for constructing a well and operating system.
- Public Water Supply District #8 of Platte County (Missouri): $569,955 for replacing aging water mains and service lines.
- City of Waitsburg (Washington): $570,000 for replacing water main lines.
- Clarksburg Water Board (West Virginia): $3,868,000 for installing mixing and aeration equipment in storage tanks.
- Executive Office of the Government of the Virgin Islands: $400,000 for data collection and modeling efforts.
- Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians (Northern California): $331,769 for infrastructure improvements.
Additional recipients include Newtok Village in Western Alaska ($5.25 million), Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Southern Montana ($570k), Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Coastal Washington ($600k).
The Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program was established under America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to improve drinking water quality while enhancing public health and economic stability.
