Region 1: EPA New England Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
Recovery Funding for Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure
Putting people to work for clean, safe drinking water and a cleaner environment
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The Recovery Act provides needed money to update infrastructure for our nation's drinking water and wastewater facilities, to ensure clean and safe water for years to come.
Water and wastewater infrastructure are economic engines for communities. Without these services communities cannot attract businesses. Drinking and wastewater systems generate jobs long after the projects are complete. The Recovery Act will help transform and modernize our aging wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. It will help communities construct new facilities and modernize existing systems to be more effective in providing wastewater treatment and safe drinking water.
The Recovery Act provides a rare opportunity for disadvantaged communities to provide safe drinking water. Financially these communities cannot afford to build systems or charge high rates necessary to repay loans. The Act offers these communities hope in providing safe water through affordable services.
The Recovery Act provides funds to Clean Water State Revolving Fund Programs (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Programs (DWSRF) in the amount of $4 Billion and $2 Billion, respectively, to create jobs and provide affordable funding for wastewater and drinking water projects. This is double the typical annual allocation for drinking water systems, and six times the typical annual allocation for waste water systems. The Recovery Act funds are in addition to the traditional 2008 and 2009 SRF allotments states and tribes are eligible to receive. In addition to traditional "grey" infrastructure, the Recovery Act directs states to use 20% of allotted funds as a Green Reserve. Projects funded under the Green Reserve can include water or energy efficiency improvements, green infrastructure to manage stormwater, and other environmentally innovative activities. Learn more about water program funding available from the Recovery Act.
To the extent that a state has sufficient eligible projects, 20% of the funds are to be used for projects to address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency, or other environmentally innovative activities. Further, the usual 20% state match for SRF funds has been waived in order to expedite the expenditure of these funds so that job creation and economic benefit is maximized. Learn more about the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in New England.
The Recovery Act provides $40 million nationwide for states to conduct water quality planning activities, including outreach and technical assistance, ambient monitoring, water quality standards development, and administration (this relates to Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act). New England states will share just under $3 million for these activities. Read EPA HQ's guidance memo (PDF) (49 pp, 661 K, about PDF) on the use of these funds.
The Recovery Act provides $60 million nationwide to address wastewater treatment for Tribal communities. It provides over $1M to Region 1 tribes - double our normal annual budget - to fund five drinking water projects and one wastewater project for people living in tribal communities in the New England region. Many of our tribes are in critical need of first time or upgraded drinking water and wastewater services. Using this money, many tribes will be able to provide sustainable drinking water and wastewater services to its member for years to come.
Recovery Act Clean Water Projects Where You Live
EPA will provide specific information about Clean Water Projects in the New England States.