Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2021

CONTACT:
Nathan Gardner-Andrews
General Counsel & Chief Advocacy Officer
1.202.533.1810
ngardner-andrews@nacwa.org

WASHINGTON – The following is a statement from National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) CEO Adam Krantz in response to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“NACWA applauds the Biden Administration and leaders in both the House and Senate for working across party lines to pass critical infrastructure legislation that includes significant federal investments in public clean water services for state and local communities,” Krantz said. “Just as roads, bridges, and broadband contribute to vibrant communities, the public clean water sector is vital to America’s public health and the environment. This legislation takes strides to help provide all households with clean and safe water services at an affordable cost. NACWA’s members look forward to working with stakeholders at all levels of government to implement this legislation.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act contains $550 billion in new spending, of which $55 billion will go toward clean water and drinking water. Specifically, the bill’s key investments for the water sector include:

• $11.7 billion each for both the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for a total of $23.5 billion in new federal investment, half of which is required to be in the form of grants or 100% principal loan forgiveness. The CWSRF and DWSRF, the primary federal funding mechanisms for water infrastructure, are federal-state partnerships that provide communities with low-cost financing to make water system upgrades.
  
  
• $20 billion in additional funding to the State Revolving Funds to address specific water concerns, including $15 billion for activities related to the identification and replacement of lead service lines and $5 billion to address emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  

• The creation of the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program authorized at $125 million – a new program that will award grants to publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants to increase resilience against natural hazards – and important reauthorizations of existing programs including the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant Program and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program.
• A provision that requires the EPA to initiate efforts to address rural and low-income water assistance needs, including conducting an assessment of water assistance needs throughout the country. 

Notably, this bill only contains roughly half the amount initially proposed for water infrastructure by this Administration. Congress has worked to include further critical investments to strengthen the resilience of water utilities and the communities they serve in the Build Back Better Act. NACWA urges continued support for those provisions as negotiations continue on Building Back Better.

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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