A report by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) found U.S. drinking water infrastructure and other critical needs will require infrastructure investments of $2.1 to $2.4 trillion over the next 25 years. The AWWA says its report, Beyond the Replacement Era: Balancing Compounding Infrastructure Needs with Household Affordability, provides the most comprehensive assessment to date … Read more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requests public input on its Clean Water Act (CWA) Financial Capability Assessment guidance. The resource aims to help keep water bills affordable as wastewater systems plan for needed infrastructure upgrades, including collection systems, pumps, and treatment plants. USEPA says the public feedback will be utilized to update USEPA’s guidance … Read more
Utilities have recently experienced increased capital, operation, and maintenance costs. The cause in many cases can be attributed to aging infrastructure that was built in the last century. In addition, heightened regulatory requirements associated with the implementation of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act increased the cost of compliance while the upcoming … Read more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has more than $1.1 billion available to the 50 States and Puerto Rico in 2018 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loans, plus $23 million for Tribal water systems, and $28 million for the District of Columbia and territorial water systems. The U.S. Congress appropriates funding for the DWSRF … Read more
U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced legislation in late January to reauthorize the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The bill would help stimulate investment in water infrastructure, such as flood control, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment by supplementing Federal funding with long-term, low-cost loans and loan guarantees. Similar legislation has … Read more
It appears 2017 will be a good year to construct or replace underground infrastructure. Thanks to relatively favorable interest rates, infrastructure projects are more affordable right now. “The interest rates in Federal and State funding programs such as the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF/CWSRF) and USDA Rural Development funding are at … Read more