The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act Is Another Big Boost for Local Communities

A new law is providing a boost to local water infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed on November 15, 2021 and provides $51 billion in funding to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grant programs. This historic bill delivers another important investment to the nation’s infrastructure after the American Rescue Plan earlier this spring.

This new boost is the most significant federal investment in local water infrastructure in decades. A large portion of this funding is made possible by the recent $1.75 trillion Budget Reconciliation package.  Much of the funding will be distributed over the net five years, starting with the fiscal year 2022 budget.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) are two initiatives that will each get $11.7 billion in financing. A total of $15 billion will be allocated to the Drinking Water SRF in the form of loans and grants for the replacement of lead service lines. To mitigate pollution, the Clean Water SRF will receive an additional $1 billion in awards.

A few other programs to receive help include The Wastewater Energy Efficiency Grant Pilot Program ($100 million), the Clean Water Infrastructure and Resiliency and Sustainability Grant Program ($125 million), and the US EPA Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant Program ($1.4 billion). To combat PFAS in drinking water, the Drinking Water SRF will receive $4 billion.

The new Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act will help drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects significantly. The McCrone | Hartwell team can help clients with planning, design, and project management. Please get in touch with us to learn more about how our water and wastewater engineering services can help you with your next project.