FWEA FOCUS
Investing in U.S. Water Infrastructure Ronald R. Cavalieri, P.E., BCEE President, FWEA
Water Infrastructure is Fundamental to Our Nation’s Economic Health and Competitiveness America’s clean water infrastructure is massive. By keeping the nation’s water infrastructure in a state of good repair, we strengthen our economy and invest in the future. Local, state, and federal action to increase investment in our water infrastructure today will lead to a resilient, efficient, and reliable water future and protect public health for generations to come. In my July column it was noted that America’s water infrastructure is failing. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) created an Infrastructure Report Card to assign grades for infrastructure in the United States based on condition, safety, capacity, and other factors. The most-recent report card assigned drinking water and wastewater infrastructure a C- and D+, respectively. The recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Act) will
provide significant funding for the nation’s critical water infrastructure.
The U.S. Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act The Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021. It will provide significant public investment in U.S. transportation networks, broadband, and public works projects. The Act allocates an estimated $1.2 trillion in total funding over 10 years, including $550 billion in new spending over the next five years. The new spending will be split between improving the transportation network ($284 billion) and the nation’s core infrastructure ($263 billion). Funding for core infrastructure includes the power grid, broadband, water, environmental resiliency, and environmental remediation. The Act includes funding for a range of issues and seeks to embed sustainability and equity in new infrastructure investments. The passage of the legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our nation’s aging infrastructure.
Funding for Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure The Act includes the Senate Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Bill (S. 914) passed by the Senate on April 29, 2021. The bill reauthorizes existing programs and creates new programs to support drinking water and
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wastewater infrastructure projects. Most of this funding is allocated to the existing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund SRF, both administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The bill provides $55 billion in new spending, including: S $43.4 billion in SRF S $15 billion for lead service line replacement through the SRF S $10 billion to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination S $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Program Here is a summary of the funding authorized under this legislation. Drinking Water State Revolving Funds These funds authorize funding through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 for the SRF, which provides capitalization grants to states for loans supporting water infrastructure projects. It authorizes $2.4 billion for FY 2022, $2.75 billion for FY 2023, $3 billion for FY 2024, and $3.25 billion for FYs 2025 and 2026. Clean Water State Revolving Funds These funds are authorized through FY 2026 for the Clean Water SRF, which provides capitalization grants to states for loans supporting water quality improvement projects. They authorize $2.4 billion for FY 2022, $2.75 billion
