The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant funding initiative aimed at upgrading water infrastructure across the United States. This move is part of the Biden-Harris administration's efforts under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with $3.6 billion in new funding being unveiled for fiscal year 2025. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, the total investment for the year reaches $6.2 billion.
These funds are intended to enhance water infrastructure, crucial for managing wastewater, protecting freshwater resources, and ensuring safe drinking water delivery to various communities including homes, schools, and businesses. The funding will be distributed through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), which are federal-state partnerships providing low-interest loans for essential water infrastructure projects.
Iowa is set to receive substantial allocations from this initiative: $33,678,000 from the Clean Water General Supplemental funds, $2,907,000 from Emerging Contaminant funds, and $11,487,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
This financial support forms part of a broader five-year plan involving a $50 billion investment in water infrastructure—the largest such investment in U.S. history. A key aspect of this initiative is its focus on disadvantaged communities; a majority of today's announced funding will be directed towards these areas through grants or non-repayable loans.
"Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. He emphasized that failing water infrastructure poses risks to health and environmental stability but noted that "with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water," efforts are underway to address local challenges like lead contamination and sewer overflows while creating jobs.
EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister highlighted that "communities across our region with aging water infrastructure and contamination concerns will benefit from this funding." She expressed eagerness to collaborate with state partners to ensure these critical upgrades are both attainable and affordable.
To assist communities facing barriers in accessing federal funding for water projects, EPA offers a Water Technical Assistance program designed to help disadvantaged areas identify issues and apply for necessary upgrades.
For more detailed information on state-specific allocations or other related projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, interested parties can visit various EPA online resources including their Clean Water State Revolving Fund page.
