The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $6.5 billion in funding through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program for water systems, along with an additional $550 million for state infrastructure financing authorities. Interested parties can apply for this funding through a rolling application process.
Additionally, the EPA has approved five new WIFIA loans aimed at enhancing water infrastructure projects in Texas, Illinois, Oregon, and Florida. The WIFIA program is designed to accelerate investments in water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment while offering financial savings to communities.
"Modernizing and maintaining water infrastructure is essential to ensuring clean and safe water for all Americans and advancing EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative," said Jessica Kramer, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water. "EPA’s WIFIA program provides a win-win for communities and American taxpayers."
The initial Notice of Funding Availability was issued during the first Trump administration. The current 2025 funding marks the ninth round of financing with $6.5 billion available. An additional $550 million is accessible through the State WIFIA (SWIFIA) program.
For this funding round, priority areas include ensuring safe drinking water, addressing pollution in national water bodies, supporting local and state water priorities, fostering innovation in the water sector, promoting economic growth, and advancing America’s industrial resurgence.
The newly approved loans will support various projects:
- Fort Worth, Texas: A $347 million loan will upgrade wastewater collection and treatment facilities.
- Pflugerville, Texas: A $176 million loan will modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
- Joliet, Illinois: An $87 million loan will help transition the city’s drinking water supply from an unsustainable aquifer.
- Ashland, Oregon: A $73 million loan will fund a new drinking water treatment plant.
- Wilton Manors, Florida: A $28 million loan will improve system reliability by reducing pipeline failures.
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, WIFIA is a federal loan program administered by the EPA that aims to boost investment in national water infrastructure through long-term credit assistance. The program's flexible financing features help communities save money while partnering federal funds with state, local, and private investments.
To date, EPA's WIFIA program has announced $22 billion to finance 141 projects nationwide, creating over 160,000 jobs across the country.
Information from this article can be found here.
