Water Sector News
A snapshot of clean water stories from publications around the country, updated daily!
A Year for Water Infrastructure
A clear consensus has emerged among water sector officials about the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) toward the end of 2021: it’s a big deal.
“It represents some of the most significant investments from the federal government ever in clean water utilities — really exceeded only by the construction grants program back in the ‘70s and the ‘80s,” said Kristina Surfus, managing director of government affairs for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). The group represents the nation’s publicly owned wastewater and stormwater management agencies.
President Joseph Biden signed the $1.2 trillion IIJA, also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, into law on Nov. 15, 2021. Alongside major investments in transportation, electric vehicles, internet, and roads, the legislation earmarks $55 billion for clean water and water infrastructure projects.
Much of the funding will come through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Both programs are federal-state partnerships that provide communities with low-cost financing for water infrastructure projects. Each program will receive $11.7 billion over five years.