( April 4, 2023 ) Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA, ) announced $ 62,283,000 for essential improvements to drinking water infrastructure in Puerto Rico as well as throughout the country through the State Rotary Drinking Water Fund ( DWSRF). Thanks to a boost of $ 6 billion given by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA is increasing the investments available to rebuild the country's water infrastructure.

“ Each community deserves access to safe and clean drinking water ”, said the EPA administrator Michael S. Regan. “ Thanks to President Biden's historic infrastructure investments in the United States, we have an unprecedented opportunity to revitalize America's drinking water systems, support the Biden-Harris Administration's goal of removing 100% of lead pipes across our country and protecting communities from PFAS ” contamination.

“ The EPA is contributing funds where there are priority needs by working with our state to serve clean water to communities, protect public health and promote environmental justice in Puerto Rico and throughout the country ” noted EPA regional administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “ This financing is part of the unique investments in life that we are making to transform infrastructure in accordance with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ”.

“ As a government, we will continue to rebuild our drinking water infrastructure to make it more robust and resilient. The support that Puerto Rico is receiving from the federal government through the United States Environmental Protection Agency with the Law Bipartisan Infrastructure and the Rotary Drinking Water Fund is essential for our most disadvantaged communities and will mean a better quality of life for all. On behalf of all US citizens living in Puerto Rico, we thank the Biden-Harris administration and will continue to work with the EPA and the federal government for the well-being of all residents on the Island ”, indicated the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro R. Pierluisi.

“ I welcome this new allocation of $ 62.2 million in federal resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve water infrastructure in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria, we saw the need to strengthen said infrastructure to avoid interruptions in the water service and guarantee that our communities have access to drinking water at all times ”, the Congresswoman commented Jenniffer González Colón.

Recent examples of the type of work being funded include the planned use of funds by the government of Puerto Rico in planning, design, construction and replacement of eligible drinking water systems that focus on disadvantaged communities on all islands. In addition, studies will be carried out to define the potential presence of lead for possible pipe replacement throughout the Island. Meanwhile, the funds of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will also be used to assess the possible impact of emerging pollutants on 5 drinking water systems owned by the Port Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Rich.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to strengthening the country's water infrastructure, while providing significant resources to meet challenges such as climate change, Emerging pollutants such as perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances ( PFAS ), lead pipes and cyber security.

DWSRF allocations to states are based on the results of the 7maa Survey and Evaluation of Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs ( DWINSA ) of the EPA. The survey, which is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, It assesses the infrastructure needs of the country's public water systems every four years, and the findings are used to allocate DWSRF grants to states. Drinking water utilities need $ 625 billion in infrastructure investments over the next 20 years to ensure the nation's public health, safety, and economic well-being.

Under the direction of Congress, the 7th EPA Drinking Water Assessment, For the first time, it included survey questions focused on lead service pipes and is projecting a national total of 9.2 million lead service pipes across the country. These nationwide and state projections of service line counts will help promote a unique opportunity to employ a separate main service pipeline allocation formula for financing DWSRF Lead Service Pipe Replacement of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that is based on necessity. Almost $ 3 billion of the funds announced today will be specifically earmarked for identifying and replacing lead service pipes, taking a key step towards the Biden-Harris Administration's goal of achieving 100% lead-free water systems.

The Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing more than $ 50 billion in improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure across the country between fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2026. In its second year of implementation, there will be $ 6 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds available to states, tribes, and territories through the DWSRF. From this financing, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $ 3 billion to identify and improve the main service pipes, $ 800 million to address PFAS and other emerging pollutants, and $ 2.2 billion in other critical improvements to the drinking water system. In addition, approximately $ 500 million will also be available through DWSRF's annual allocations,established by the Safe Drinking Water Law.

The EPA is committed to ensuring that each community has access to this historic investment and has centralized the growing investment in disadvantaged communities within its implementation. The implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires strong collaboration, and the EPA continues to work in partnership with the states, tribes and territories to ensure that communities perceive all the benefits of this investment. In addition, EPA is strengthening its technical assistance programs of water to support communities in assessing their water needs and requesting their fair share of this historic investment.

President Biden's Investing in America agenda is growing the US economy from the bottom up and from the middle out, from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, until the creation of a manufacturing and innovation boom driven by well-paying jobs that do not require a four-year degree, even building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

More details, including the state-by-state allocation of funds for 2023 and information on DWINSA.

More information on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Transfondo

Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act ( SDWA ) of 1996 ordered the EPA to conduct an assessment of the infrastructure needs of the country's public water systems every four years and will use the findings to allocate DWSRF capitalization grants to states.

DWSRFs have been the foundation of investment in water infrastructure for more than 25 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across the United States. Since its inception, states have provided nearly $ 53 billion through DWSRF programs to water systems for approximately 18,000 projects. Each state receives an allocation percentage that is based directly on its proportional part of the total need of the 50 states and Puerto Rico. The percentage made available to any individual state ranges from 1% to almost 11%, and a minimum of 1% is guaranteed to each state% of the total amount available to the states. Due to the participation of any individual state in the total need of the state,some states will see increases or decreases in the percentage of funds they receive.

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Original source can be found here.