The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced over $126,864 million from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Funds in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The funding will help communities upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies nationwide, according to the EPA.
“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding, paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”
“This major investment translates into replacing or repairing aging wastewater infrastructure, implementing water reuse and recycling, as well as addressing stormwater,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA is committed to getting these critical water resources to underserved and disadvantaged communities.”
EPA has announced the following:
- New York will receive $83,628,000
- New Jersey will receive $30,963,000
- Puerto Rico will receive $9,883,000
- U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $2,390,000
Administrator Regan announced the funding as part of a $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina, with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President’s historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
The announcement builds on the second wave of the $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
This investment reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.
See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Background
The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for over 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs.
The states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent for the base programs to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, the state’s CWSRF can be recycled or “revolved.” As money is returned to the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit their website.
