Direct from the Director

Time to Act

Chris Harrison, Director

Many of us are aware of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or H.R. 3684 (also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill or BILL) that Congress passed in early November 2021; however, you may not understand the positive financial opportunity the Bill provides to our State’s water and wastewater infrastructure. This article highlights key points of the new law and how the funds will be appropriated. To be honest, I haven’t seen this level of funding in my 35-year utility career.

Since the Bill’s passing, attention has turned to implementing the new law, I’m pleased to say that the additional funds will be administrated by the Indiana Financial Authority (IFA), through the existing State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. Many of us have worked with the current staff with IFA. If not, please contact me and I will direct you to the appropriate contact.

As we walk through the key points from the AWWA Legislative update, remember that the funding is outlined at the federal level. *Please note that the amount that each state is scheduled to receive has not been released at the time of writing this article.

Stay in your seats people!

Drinking Water Appropriations • $50 million annually for WIFIA programs for FY2022-2026. • $11.713 billion for the drinking water

SRF; 49% to be in the form of grants or loans with principal forgiveness; only 10% state match required in FY2022 and FY2023 (the wastewater SRF program got an equal amount). • $15 billion for lead service line

replacement, with 49% to be in the form of grants or loans with principal forgiveness; no state match required; $3 billion annually for FY2022-2026. • $4 billion to be channeled through the drinking water SRF for emerging contaminants, all in the form of grants or principal forgiveness. • $5 billion to deal with emerging contaminants in economically distressed communities. • $1.126 billion annually in additional funding for the drinking water SRF through FY2026. • $1.6 billion annually in additional funding for the wastewater SRF through FY2026. I had to reread how the funds are being appropriated. To be honest, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. $11.713 billion for drinking water SRF; 49% of the funds to be in grant or loans with principal forgiveness for both water and/ or wastewater infrastructure improvements? $15 billion for lead service line replacement, with 49% to be in the form of grants or loans with principal forgiveness.

If you are reading this article, you need to act! Access to these funds does require planning. A good portion of the funding will require planning within your community and will follow the traditional funding process through IFA. I’m excited about this funding opportunity and look forward to connecting with you, should you have any questions about the funding process.

Best, Chris Harrison INAWWA Director