This afternoon, the U.S. Senate voted 89-2 to pass S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA). This comprehensive clean and drinking water infrastructure legislation authorizes strong annual water infrastructure investment – including the first-ever reauthorization of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted to pass S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA). This bipartisan, comprehensive clean water and drinking water infrastructure legislation will authorize strong annual water infrastructure investment to help boost federal water infrastructure investment, including the first-ever reauthorization of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) at a level totaling $14.6 billion over five years.

Since $638M in first-ever low-income water customer assistance was signed into law in December – followed by a second tranche of $500M provided in March – utilities have been waiting for the funding to start flowing to help customers in need. NACWA has been in conversation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) staff standing up the new program, dubbed the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP, and offering recommendations, but limited details had been released by the agency until recently.

President Biden delivered his first major address before a joint session of Congress last night to promote the key tenants of his Build Back Better proposal, the American Families Plan, and the American Jobs Plan. He specifically mentioned the importance of clean and safe water for all Americans, and his proposal includes over $100 billion in water infrastructure investment.

One of President Biden’s earliest hires at U.S. EPA, Radhika Fox, has been officially nominated for the role of Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water. NACWA has submitted a letter to Congress in support of her nomination as we believe she will be a strong champion for the clean water sector.

In January 2021, NACWA member utility Charleston Water System (CWS) in South Carolina filed a lawsuit in federal district court against multiple manufacturers, distributors and retailers of so-called “flushable” wipes seeking to have the court enjoin them from labeling their products as “flushable” in light of the damage those wipes have caused to sewer systems.

The water sector once again united this year for Water Week, a yearly event to celebrate the importance of water and advocate for making water a top national priority. This year, due to COVID-19 concerns, events were held virtually.

The deadline has been extended to May for drinking water and wastewater utilities to complete a survey on cybersecurity. The survey is sponsored by national water sector associations, including NACWA, and responses are urgently needed to inform the association advocacy efforts related to cybersecurity.

Sunday, April 25 marked the beginning of Water Week 2021, as thousands of representatives from across the water sector come together to advocate before Congress and the Administration on behalf of the communities they serve.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released additional information April 27 regarding implementation of the $1.138 Billion provided by Congress in December 2020 and March 2021 for emergency low-income household water and wastewater assistance (LIHWAP).

We are excited to announce that Michael S. Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will address the water sector for the first time during the Water Week Policy Zoom-In on Tuesday, April 27, 2:00-4:30 p.m. ET – and the timing could not be more critical. With conversations heating up on a national infrastructure plan, environmental justice, and emerging contaminants like PFAS, EPA Administrator Regan and his team will play a central role in addressing these and other priority issues facing the water sector.