Water Infrastructure
EPA Parcels Out $5.8B for Drinking Water, Wastewater Projects
Since 2022, the IIJA has provided $21.9 billion for water infrastructure, EPA says.
Graphic by ENR Art Dept.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced $5.8 billion in funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects around the nation.
The funding, which EPA announced Feb. 20, comes from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). It is divided among all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, tribes and territories.
EPA said that since 2022, IIJA has provided $21.9 billion for water infrastructure. In all, the five-year measure includes $50 billion for water projects, which EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said is the largest amount in U.S. history.
The new funding supports EPA’s state revolving funds, which have long been a pillar of federal water infrastructure programs. The SRFs provide low-interest loans for infrastructure projects. As the loans are repaid, states can "revolve" them and make new loans.
States provide 20% in matching funds to supplement federal dollars.
EPA divides the drinking water SRF funds among the states based on their relative needs, as outlined in the most recent EPA drinking water report, which was issued last September.
Clean water allocations are based on a formula and "are strictly defined by the Clean Water Act," the agency said.
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Of the newly announced total, $3.2 billion goes for drinking water SRFs and $2.6 billion for clean water SRFs, which help to finance wastewater treatment and stormwater projects.
Funding distributions are preliminary and are from the IIJA's fiscal year 2024 total.
In the main drinking water funding category, the largest recipient among the states is California, with $248 million. Texas ranks second, with $183.3 million; followed by New York, with $107.4 million; and Florida, with $82.9 million. Pennsylvania is fifth, with $75.8 million.
In clean water SRFs, New York leads the way, with $253.5 million; California is second, with $164.3 million. Ohio is third, at $129.3 million, followed by Texas, with $105 million and Illinois, with $103.9 million.
