Press Release

(WASHINGTON-- May 2, 2025) Today, the White House released its Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request, outlining proposed spending across the federal government. Concerningly, the Budget proposes a 55 percent reduction in U.S. EPA’s annual spending—a reduction that is only made possible by kneecapping the primary water infrastructure financing programs on which local utilities rely.

More than 700 water sector professionals representing national associations and wastewater and drinking water utilities from across the country will visit Congressional office visits this week as part of the annual National Water Policy Fly-In during Water Week.

Decision represents a "major victory" for clean water investment

Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) introduce bipartisan legislation to advance “polluter pays” principle for PFAS

Clean water utilities, federal, state public servants recognized for efforts

As the 2024 presidential race accelerates, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is urging both candidates to prioritize critical clean water infrastructure issues. NACWA has submitted letters to Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump outlining several pressing challenges that affect public health, the environment, and the economic stability of American communities.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) today filed an amicus brief in support of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court for regulatory certainty in the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies Wednesday honored the recipients of the 2024 NACWA Peak Performance Awards at a ceremony during NACWA’s 2024 Utility Leadership Conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

Hundreds of clean water professionals will gather at the Buffalo Hyatt Regency July 23-26 to discuss a range of relevant topics during the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ (NACWA) Annual Utility Leadership Conference and 54th Meeting.

(Washington, D.C.) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act, the result of a decade of advocacy by NACWA, the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, water sector partners, and manufacturers to improve labeling.

(Washington, D.C.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its much-anticipated 2022 Clean Watershed Needs Survey (CWNS) Report to Congress, identifying $630.1 billion in needed but unfunded investment in the nation’s clean water infrastructure. This represents a 73 percent increase in total reported needs since the previous 2012 report a decade ago. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has long advocated the need for increased federal funding for clean water infrastructure and believes today’s report supports that need.

(Washington, D.C.) Infrastructure Week 2024 serves as a strong reminder that the need for continued investment in clean water infrastructure persists, despite strides that have been made in federal funding for the water sector. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) echoes the call for increased federal investment as the water sector continues to confront a complex set of regulatory and ratepayer affordability issues.

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to formally designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). The Agency also published a corresponding enforcement discretion memo which outlines how EPA intends to focus its enforcement actions directing cleanups under the new rule.

Washington, DC – Today a coalition of drinking water and wastewater sector organizations offered its strong support for H.R. 8032, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act, bipartisan legislation that would permanently establish low-income water assistance for families struggling to access affordable drinking water and wastewater services.

April 16, 2024 -- Washington, DC – Today, the Water Coalition Against PFAS, a coalition of drinking water and wastewater sector organizations, applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would provide a statutory shield for water systems under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for PFAS, and help ensure that polluters, not the public, pay for PFAS cleanup.

(Washington, D.C. – April 8, 2024) – Over 350 water sector professionals and policy experts, representing associations and public water sector utilities from across the country, will take part in Congressional office visits this week as part of the annual “Water Week” Fly-In on Capitol Hill.

(Washington, DC) – The Water Coalition Against PFAS, a group of the leading national water sector associations, testified today on Capitol Hill before the Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee at a hearing examining the implications of listing certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) 2024 National Environmental Achievement Awards (NEAA) winners will be honored this evening during the Association’s Winter Conference in Austin, Texas.

Clean Water Sector Leaders from Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Showcase Regional Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Programs in the Fields of Water Reuse, Green Infrastructure, and Decarbonization.

Just hours in advance of an expected shutdown of the federal government, public water utility executives from Florida, joined by business and environmental experts from across the country, painted a dire picture of the impact that deep cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) will have on local infrastructure projects across the country.