Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff
A new Environmental Protection Agency report to federal lawmakers projects future capital outlays to maintain or modernize publicly owned wastewater treatment works, stormwater infrastructure, nonpoint source control, and decentralized wastewater treatment systems like septic tanks. Such investments are deemed essential to supporting the Clean Water Act’s goal of fishable, swimmable waters from coast to coast, according to the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey. The just-released EPA document represents the most recent comprehensive take on wastewater, stormwater, and other clean water infrastructure needs in the U.S., and shows that at least $630 billion will be needed over the next 20 years.
“Protecting our nations waterways is vital for healthy communities. They provide sources of drinking water, support farming, power economic opportunity and transport, and allow for recreation and fishing,” says EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “This survey is an important estimate of needs that is based on information collected from the communities themselves.”
EPA has many federal funding resources available for communities and utilities to improve vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides up to $50 billion for critical water infrastructure, with almost $13 billion earmarked for wastewater and stormwater management. The Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving fund has supported $160 billion-plus in water pollution control construction since 1987, while the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program has issued over $43 billion in water infrastructure project funds since 2018.
CLEAN WATERSHEDS NEEDS SURVEY
In billions of dollars
