The Biden administration has announced over $5.8 billion from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for states, Tribes, and territories to invest in drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. The funding is part of the over $50 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest such investment in American history. The announcement will support essential water infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies across the nation. Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, ensuring funds reach underserved communities most in need of investments in water infrastructure.
“President Biden and I believe that every person in our country should have a right to clean water no matter where they live or how much money they make. That is why our Administration made clean water a national priority and delivered the largest investment in America’s water infrastructure in history,” said Vice President Harris. “Today, I am proud to announce more than $5.8 billion from our Investing in America agenda for states, Tribes, and territories to upgrade water infrastructure in communities across our nation. With this investment, we are continuing our urgent work to remove every lead pipe in the country and ensure that every American has access to safe and reliable drinking water.”
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda continues to transform communities for the better with this latest infusion of funds for critical water infrastructure projects,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With $50 billion in total, the largest investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history, EPA will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come.”
The funding is part of the over $50 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest such investment in American history
"Upwards of 37 public schools in Western Pennsylvania have lead contamination in their water. I came to Congress to represent the Black, brown, and poor communities that have been deemed as “sacrifice zones” for polluters. Generations of folks in communities like mine have grown up in and are now raising children in zip codes that have water funneled through lead pipes next to rivers and streams too polluted to swim in. That’s why earlier this year, we secured $84.5 million to remove lead water lines, and are continuing to fight for environmental justice” said Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12). “I’m proud to work with the Biden Administration to bring home an additional $99 million for clean water and $75 million for clean drinking water from the Environmental Protection Agency to Pennsylvania–which will mean less kids getting sick and more families having the security of knowing their environment isn’t posing an imminent threat to their health.”
“Exposure to any level of lead puts everyone, especially kids, at risk,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17). “I am so glad President Biden’s Infrastructure Law is investing directly in communities in Western Pennsylvania to remove dangerous lead pipes and ensure folks have clean and safe drinking water.”
Communities across the country are facing water infrastructure challenges. Many cities and towns have aging water infrastructure – old, broken or lead pipes carrying drinking water and wastewater treatment plants in need of major upgrades. Some communities struggle to maintain adequate stormwater infrastructure to effectively manage flood impacts from climate change and others need to upgrade their water treatment to address emerging contaminants like PFAS.
EPA is announcing a $5.8 billion investment through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), one of EPA’s signature water investment programs. This multi-billion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges, with $2.6 billion going to the Clean Water SRF for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and $3.2 billion going to the Drinking Water SRF for drinking water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law General Supplemental funds and Emerging Contaminant funds for SRF programs for fiscal year 2024. EPA anticipates announcing allocations for billions of dollars in additional resources for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund later this spring.
