The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) allocates $10 billion in new government funding to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) and emerging contaminants that increasingly challenge the nation’s water and wastewater systems.[i]
Ordinarily, such funding requires matching or cost-sharing from the state. But the IIJA’s PFAS funding is awarded as a grant, loan with the entire principal forgiven, or combination of the two. This grant funding provides states and water systems with additional resources to address PFAS impacts to their water sources
This third article in our series on the IIJA outlines which water providers and other communities are eligible for the Act’s new water-focused funds, how they can receive funding, and the implications of such funding.
Public water systems; public, private, and nonprofit entities developing water infrastructure projects; and privately- and publicly-owned community water systems can access this funding through their individual state programs. This funding distribution includes:
- $5 billion to address emerging contaminants for small and disadvantaged communities, distributed to improve drinking water quality under the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”);
- $1 billion for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects under the Clean Water State Revolving Funds (“Clean Water Funds”) under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”); and
- $4 billion for community water systems to upgrade drinking water treatment, distribution, and replacement of contaminated sources under the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (“Drinking Water Funds”) of the SDWA.
Marten Law LLP – Jeff B. Kray, Jessica K. Ferrell, Sara V. Cloon and Martha H. Geyer
December 1 2021