The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $156 million loan under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to support drinking water infrastructure improvements in Pflugerville, Texas. This initiative aims to ensure clean and safe drinking water for the community.
"Upgrading water infrastructure is one of the best ways to support vibrant communities," said Bruno Pigott, EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water. He emphasized that such upgrades not only benefit residents and the environment but also create jobs.
Pflugerville will use this loan to plan, design, and construct three projects. These include expanding its water treatment plant, increasing the capacity of its distribution system by upsizing pipes, constructing a new secondary Colorado River Raw Water Line, and upgrading pump stations.
Alongside this loan, EPA and Pflugerville have announced a $462 million master agreement for future low-cost WIFIA financing. This will help fund upcoming drinking water and wastewater projects while saving up to $6.5 million in interest costs. The agreement provides financial certainty for critical projects outlined in Pflugerville's 10-year capital improvement program plan.
Brandon Pritchett, Public Utility Director for Pflugerville, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with the EPA WIFIA team again. "With this partnership, the city can move forward on key projects while saving a substantial amount of money on interest," he said.
This marks Pflugerville's second WIFIA loan; it previously received $52 million in 2022 for the Wilbarger Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Since its inception, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced nearly $21 billion in financing to support $45 billion in water infrastructure projects nationwide.
The WIFIA program was established by Congress in 2014 to provide long-term credit assistance for significant water infrastructure projects across the country. The EPA is currently offering additional funding through its eighth selection round for WIFIA financing.
