New Report to Congress highlights massive $630 billion gap between available funds and needed clean water infrastructure investments

(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.  

"Today’s Report to Congress confirms what public clean water utilities across America already know – that there is a massive gap between available funds and the dollars actually needed to invest in the country’s clean water infrastructure, and that the gap is growing at a rapid and unsustainable pace," said Adam Krantz, NACWA CEO. "Local utilities and their ratepayers simply cannot continue to bear the full burden for these costs. While the $50 billion in federal water investments provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) are important and much appreciated, this new report makes clear that amount will hardly make a dent in the overall need. Local ratepayers will continue to pay for the majority of investments, but the federal government must step up and come forward as a full and long-term partner to address the funding need."

Unlike the Drinking Water Needs Assessment, which EPA is required by statute to complete every four years, there is no similar statutory requirement for EPA to complete the CWNS on a specific timeline. The last survey was in 2012, and NACWA advocated strongly to include language in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) requiring EPA to produce an updated CWNS.

NACWA looks forward to using the survey results to advocate for increased federal clean water infrastructure investment with Congress and to working with EPA to ensure that the CWNS is completed on a more regular and timely schedule in the future.

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ABOUT NACWA

For over 50 years, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has been the nation’s recognized leader in legislative, regulatory, legal, and communications advocacy on the full spectrum of clean water issues. NACWA represents public wastewater and stormwater agencies of all sizes nationwide. Our unique and growing network strengthens the advocacy voice for the public clean water sector and helps advance policies to provide affordable and sustainable clean water for all. Our vision is to advance sustainable and responsible policy initiatives that help to shape a strong and sustainable clean water future. For more information, visit us at www.nacwa.org.

Media Contact:
Rahkia Nance | NACWA Communications Director
(202) 533-1809, rnance@nacwa.org