The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is seeking public feedback on its Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) guidance, a tool designed to help keep local water bills affordable as wastewater systems plan for infrastructure upgrades.
According to the agency, the FCA guidance is a non-regulatory resource that assists communities in maintaining affordable water rates while upgrading essential infrastructure such as collection systems, pumps, and treatment plants. The EPA said it will use public input to consider updates that better reflect ratepayers’ ability to support these upgrades and address potential impacts on rural and small communities.
"A priority for EPA’s Office of Water is practical implementation of Clean Water Act requirements that keep water bills affordable for American families. This is especially important for rural communities where small systems face real challenges financing water infrastructure upgrades," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "This guidance document aims to address the balancing act necessary to ensure all Americans have safe and clean water without undue financial hardship on already stressed families."
The agency said financial capability is one of several factors considered when evaluating schedules for implementing long-term Clean Water Act control plans. The FCA guidance provides information on assessing a community’s financial capacity during negotiations under permits and enforcement agreements, as well as methods for considering economic impacts when determining variances in water quality standards or during antidegradation reviews.
The EPA will accept comments through May 26, 2026, via the Federal eRulemaking portal referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-1090. Two virtual meetings are planned before the comment period closes. The most recent final FCA guidance was published in March 2023 with minor revisions in March 2024. The document is not legally binding but aims to clarify existing requirements or policies according to the agency’s ongoing commitment to practical implementation and community engagement, as listed on the official roster page.
