Challenge
The nation has underinvested in water infrastructure for too long, putting
communities at risk. Lead pipes, water main breaks, PFAS contamination, and failing
wastewater management systems threaten the safety and security of Americans across
the country. Long-term drought and water shortages in many areas of the nation, fueled
by climate change, have laid bare underinvestment in water reuse, conveyance and
storage infrastructure.
Solutions
The legislation's $55 billion investment represents the largest investment in
drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, conveyance and water storage infrastructure in
American history, including dedicated funding to replace lead service lines and address
the dangerous chemical PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl).
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding includes seven major areas, covered under this section:
- The Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds ($23.43 billion)
- Lead Service Lines ($15 billion)
- PFAS and Emerging Contaminants ($10 billion)
- Indian Water Rights ($2.5 billion)
- Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction ($3.5 billion)
- Water and Sewer Tax ($1.25 billion)
- Western Water including Rural Water ($8.3 billion)
See Also
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Chesapeake Bay Program
West Virginia's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) for the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load is guiding implementation from 2018-2025.
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Clean Water State Revolving Fund
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program is a funding program to address water quality problems through wastewater facility construction, upgrades, or expansions.
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Key Environmental Issues: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.
While drinking water is the primary pathway of exposure to PFAS, they can also be present in soil, air, food, and materials found in homes and workplaces.
Aging Infrastructure Account
The Aging Infrastructure/XM authority is used to fund extraordinary maintenance work on Reclamation project facilities.
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants
Clean Water State Revolving Fund funding as described in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, with eligible projects limited to those that address emerging contaminants, such as PFAS
Dam Safety Program
Reclamation's Dam Safety Program is in place to ensure Reclamation dams do not present unreasonable risk to people, property, and the environment.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is a financial assistance program to help water systems and states to achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Emerging Contaminants
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funding as described in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, with eligible projects limited to those that address emerging contaminants, such as PFAS.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Lead Service Lines Replacement
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funding as described in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, below, with eligible projects limited to lead service line replacement and associated activities related to identification, planning, design and removal.
Geographic Programs: Chesapeake Bay Program
The EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program awards competitive grants and cooperative agreements to states, Tribal and local governments, non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies and academic institutions to reduce and prevent pollution and to improve the living resources in the Chesapeake Bay.
Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams
The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams Grant Program makes available federal funds to eligible states for pass through to non-federal governmental
organizations or nonprofit organizations for the rehabilitation of dams.
Rural Water Projects
Funding for Rural Water will support the seven rural water projects that have been authorized by an Act of Congress before July 1, 2021, in accordance with the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006.
Water and Groundwater Storage
Water Storage, Groundwater Storage, and Conveyance projects with existing feasibility study or construction authorization are eligible for funding.
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program Account
Federal credit program to provide credit assistance to creditworthy borrowers for projects to maintain, upgrade and repair dams identified in the National Inventory
of Dams owned by non-federal entities.
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation
This grant program provides grants to public water systems in small and underserved/disadvantaged communities that are unable to finance activities needed to comply with drinking water regulations.
Water-Related Environmental Infrastructure Assistance
The program funds engineering and construction of authorized environmental infrastructure projects which provides safe water supply, waste disposal and pollution control
to cities and towns to protect human health and safeguard the environment.
Watershed Management Projects
Watershed management includes water conservation and efficiency projects that increase reliability for ecological value, improvements to mitigate drought-related impacts to ecological values, and projects that improve the condition of a natural feature or nature-based feature.
WaterSMART Grants
This funding will be used for competitive grants through WaterSMART for water management improvements that contribute to water supply sustainability, increase drought resilience, and that have environmental benefits.