04.04.2023

NBC Montana: EPA announces $62M for drinking water infrastructure upgrades in Montana

by NBC Montana Staff

HELENA, Mont. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces over $62 million in drinking water infrastructure upgrades in Montana through President Biden’s Infrastructure Law.

“Every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s historic infrastructure investments in America, 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 protect communities from PFAS pollution.”

The following was sent out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $62,283,000 for Montana essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Thanks to a $6 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is increasing the investments available to rebuild the nation’s water infrastructure.

“EPA is committed to protecting the health of all Montanans by ensuring the water flowing into their taps is reliably safe long into the future,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This funding is an invaluable investment in public and environmental health.”

“Water is life, and clean drinking water is essential for rural America’s small businesses and working families,” said Senator Jon Tester. “No matter where they live, Montanans deserve to have clean water coming right out of the tap, and that’s why I fought to secure this funding to upgrade critical drinking water infrastructure here in the Treasure State.”

“In many Montana communities aging infrastructure requires investment now to protect access to safe, clean drinking water,” said Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director Chris Dorrington. “This funding will help with those upgrades and reduce the risk of lead and emerging contaminants while reducing the out-of-pocket costs to Montanans.”

Progress made in Montana under the first wave of DWSRF allocations includes a project that will provide two disadvantaged communities near Fort Smith with modern sewer infrastructure, eliminating sewer backups and groundwater contamination in the area. The project will also eliminate current sewage contamination of the Big Horn River.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to strengthening the nation’s water infrastructure, while providing significant resources to address key challenges, including climate change, emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cybersecurity.

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

At the direction of Congress, EPA’s 7th Drinking Water Assessment, for the first time included survey questions focused on lead service lines and is projecting a national total of 9.2 million lead service lines across the country. This best available national and state-level projections of service line counts will help advance a unique opportunity to employ a separate lead service line allotment formula for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law DWSRF Lead Service Line Replacement Funding that is based on need. Almost $3 billion of the funding announced today will be provided specifically for lead service line identification and replacement, taking a key step toward the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of achieving 100% lead free water systems.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing over $50 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across the country between FY 2022 and FY 2026. In its second year of implementation, $6 billion of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will be available to states, Tribes, and territories through the DWSRF. Of that funding, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $3 billion in lead service line identification and improvement, $800 million to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and $2.2 billion in other critical drinking water system improvements. Additionally, approximately $500 million will also be available through the DWSRF annual appropriations, established by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

EPA is committed to ensuring every community has access to this historic investment and has centralized increasing investment in disadvantaged communities within its implementation. The implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law calls for strong collaboration, and EPA continues to work in partnership with states, Tribes, and territories to ensure that communities see the full benefits of this investment. In addition, EPA is strengthening its water technical assistance programs to support communities in assessing their water needs and apply for their fair share of this historic investment.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

EPA announces $62M for drinking water infrastructure upgrades in Montana | KECI (nbcmontana.com)