The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve water infrastructure and ensure community safety. This amount, combined with a previously announced $2.6 billion, brings the total investment for Fiscal Year 2025 to $6.2 billion, aimed at upgrading systems crucial for managing wastewater, protecting freshwater resources, and providing safe drinking water.
These funds will be distributed through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), which are part of a federal-state partnership that provides low-interest loans to tackle challenges in financing water infrastructure projects. Nevada will receive allocations from this funding, including $12,216,000 for general clean water purposes, $1,054,000 for addressing emerging contaminants in clean water, and $7,921,000 for emerging contaminants in drinking water.
This initiative is part of a broader five-year plan involving a $50 billion investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—the largest ever dedicated to American water infrastructure. The law requires that most of these funds benefit disadvantaged communities through grants or non-repayable loans.
Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator said: “Access to clean drinking water and dependable wastewater infrastructure is fundamental to the quality of life for all people in Nevada and for all Americans.” She emphasized that this unprecedented funding would play a critical role in upgrading infrastructure while supporting local jobs and economic resilience.
The EPA's Water Technical Assistance program aims to help communities overcome barriers to accessing federal funding by identifying challenges and developing upgrade plans. This aligns with the Justice40 Initiative's goal of directing 40% of certain federal investments' benefits towards marginalized communities.
For further details on state-specific allocations or additional projects funded under this law, interested parties can visit related EPA websites or access data through the SRF Public Portal.
