EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
10/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/23/2024 10:17
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $134 Million for Water Infrastructure in Michigan Through Investing in America Agenda
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $134 Million for Water Infrastructure in Michigan Through Investing in America Agenda
October 23, 2024
Contact Information
Allison Lippert ([email protected])
312-353-0967
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today's announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for Michigan ($106,994,000), Emerging Contaminant funds ($9,236,000) and $17,433,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
"Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people's health, peace of mind, and the environment," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges-from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water."
"The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to deliver for Michigan,"said Sen. Debbie Stabenow. "This new investment will improve our water systems, clean up pollution, keep our drinking water safe, fix old pipes, and more. Step-by-step, this law is making our state a safer, better place for families to live."
"This robust investment will help our state make great strides in upgrading Michigan's outdated water infrastructure, addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS, and safeguarding our state's unmatched freshwater resources," said Sen. Gary Peters. "I was proud to play a role in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made these upgrades possible, and I'm glad that this support will go to the communities in our state who need it most. We must continue working to ensure that every Michigander has access to safe drinking water."
"Access to safe, affordable drinking water should be a right, not a privilege," said Rep.Dan Kildee. "Thanks to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress, we are working to ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water, no matter where they live. I was proud help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring investments like this to mid-Michigan and improve water infrastructure in our community."
"Clean and safe water is a fundamental human right, which is why we fought to include this critical funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," said Rep. Debbie Dingell. These investments will help support water access for low-income households and strengthen our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. I continue to fight in Congress to make sure water is clean, affordable, and accessible for all American families, and will work with our state and local partners to ensure this funding reaches the communities where it is most needed."
EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA's Investing in America's Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA's recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund websiteand Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portalallows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation's water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs.