On Tuesday, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill designed to improve water quality and storage infrastructure throughout the Western United States. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Jim Costa (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA).
Senator Curtis emphasised the need for the legislation in light of Utah's rapid growth. “After meeting with several water conservancy districts across Utah over the past few months, one thing is clear: Utah’s rapid population growth is placing significant pressure on our community water resources,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation would make it easier for local governments and utilities to invest in critical water infrastructure projects—helping ensure we can meet the growing needs of our communities.”
Senator Kelly highlighted how the bill would benefit Arizona and the broader region. “Strengthening Arizona’s water infrastructure is key to the growth and prosperity of our state,” said Senator Kelly. “Our bipartisan bill will cut red tape to give more projects access to federal funding, which will help modernize our water infrastructure and address critical water challenges facing communities in Arizona and the western U.S.”
U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill designed to improve water quality and storage infrastructure throughout the Western United States
Representative Costa underscored the importance of reliable water systems in adapting to climate challenges. “Water is the lifeblood of the West, and as climate change intensifies drought and weather extremes, we must invest in reliable, modern water infrastructure,” said Congressman Costa. “Our legislation will provide California and San Joaquin Valley water managers with the tools they need to expand water storage and ensure clean drinking water in our communities.”
Representative Newhouse pointed to the pressing needs of rural communities. “Federal irrigation, clean water, and wastewater projects are essential to rural areas like Central Washington, but a lack of resources for maintenance and repairs puts our water infrastructure at risk. This legislation gives our local water managers the tools they need to sustain long-term projects and guarantee clean, safe water that our communities, farmers, and ranchers rely on,” said Congressman Newhouse.
Support for the bill also came from local water agency leaders. “The legislation introduced by Senator Curtis is a practical solution that will accelerate essential water infrastructure projects. Allowing federal loans, which are ultimately repaid by local dollars, to serve as the local match for WIFIA funding maximizes the impact of every dollar our communities invest,” said Gene Shawcroft, General Manager of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. “This legislation will allow local water agencies to move forward with critical infrastructure projects that ensure continued compliance with federal regulatory requirements and the protection of public health.”
“Senator Curtis’ legislation will enable water districts to invest in innovative projects like our Regional Reuse System, which will be critical as we face future droughts and increasing water demand,” added Zachary Renstrom, General Manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District. “By allowing federal loans that are repaid by local dollars to be used as the local match for WIFIA funding, water agencies can maximize community resources and secure a resilient water future for our residents.”
Background on WIFIA and legislative fix
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), passed in 2014, created a federal credit program to support drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects through low-interest loans and flexible financing. WIFIA loans are designed to help communities afford key infrastructure improvements with terms that benefit ratepayers and local economies.
However, some projects involving both federal and non-federal funding have faced eligibility barriers. Despite being primarily managed and financed by non-federal entities, these initiatives have sometimes been categorized as “Federal” for budgetary purposes. This has led to disqualification from WIFIA loans, which are limited to “non-federal borrowers.”
The Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act seeks to resolve this by:
Amending the WIFIA Act to clarify how financial assistance for jointly funded projects is treated in the federal budget;
Ensuring WIFIA loans remain classified as non-federal if the borrower is a non-federal entity and the repayment source is non-federal revenue.
By removing these technical barriers, the legislation would expand access to financing for a broader range of water infrastructure projects, particularly those involving federal and non-federal collaboration.
