Biden-Harris Administration and EPA Announce Delivery of Historic Water Infrastructure BIL Funding to Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 21, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $240 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to Pennsylvania today for water infrastructure improvements.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) allocates more than $50 billion to EPA toward repairing the nation’s essential water infrastructure, which helps communities access clean, safe and reliable drinking water, increase resilience, collect and treat wastewater to protect public health, clean up pollution and safeguard vital waterways. These grants will supplement the $67 million in fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding awarded for Pennsylvania’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and mark the first significant distribution of water infrastructure funds thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. State allocations were previously announced.  

“All communities need access to clean, reliable, safe water,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and the resources from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are repairing aging water infrastructure, replacing lead service lines, cleaning up contaminants, and making our communities more resilient in the face of floods and climate impacts.”

“President Biden has been clear—we cannot leave any community behind as we rebuild America’s infrastructure with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu. “Because of his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the additional SRF funding will now be grants or forgivable loans, making accessing these critical water resources easier for small, rural and disadvantaged communities.”

“Help is on the way to the state of Pennsylvania,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “This funding represents ‘delivery on a promise’ that the Biden administration made to help our communities most in need of clean drinking water and programs to control contaminants and harmful stormwater runoff.  EPA Mid-Atlantic looks forward to assisting and partnering with our states to expedite this critical work.”   

EPA’s SRFs are part of President Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40% of the benefits from certain federal programs flow to underserved communities. Furthermore, nearly half the funding available through the SRFs thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law must be grants or principal forgiveness loans that remove barriers to investing in essential water infrastructure in underserved communities across rural America and in urban centers.

Funding announced today represents the FY22 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law awards for states that have submitted and obtained EPA’s approval of their plans for use of the funding. SRF capitalization grants will continue to be awarded, on a rolling state-by-state basis, as more states receive approval throughout FY22; states will also receive awards over the course of the next four years. As grants are awarded, the state SRF programs can begin to distribute the funds as grants and loans to communities across their state.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law presents the largest ever funding opportunity for investing in water infrastructure. Find out more about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs and other programs that help communities manage their water at www.epa.gov/infrastructure.

For more information on intended use of this funding in Pennsylvania, please visit: https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/CleanWater/InfrastructureFinance/Pages/State-Revolving-Fund.aspx

Quote sheet:

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.)

“All communities deserve access to clean, safe water. This funding will expand access to clean drinking water, invest in projects that collect and treat wastewater to protect public health and improve water resources for all to enjoy. Investments like these are particularly important because they reach many families who have historically been marginalized. And, as we continue to face the worsening effects of the climate crisis, this investment will mean increased resiliency in the face of unpredictable weather patterns like floods and hurricanes.”

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)

“I am incredibly proud of the impact that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I helped lead in the House of Representatives has already had on my communities in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and across the United States. Today’s announcement unlocks new funds for critical water infrastructure projects such as the remediation of PFAS in drinking water, the improvement of aging stormwater and wastewater systems, and the conservation of the Delaware River Basin and Watershed. I look forward to the continued implementation of this law and its essential programs which will allow our nation to compete and thrive in the 21^st century.”

Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03)

“I’m proud that the Biden infrastructure law I voted for is providing $240 million in federal funding for Pennsylvania for one of everyone’s most vital needs – safe, clean drinking water.”  

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, (PA-04)

“Clean water is a human right, and we have an obligation to ensure that the water in our communities is safe. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is bringing historic investments across our nation, and I’m grateful for these resources that President Biden and the EPA have allocated for communities most in need in Pennsylvania. This funding will help upgrade our water infrastructure, tackle environmental and health issues like PFAS, and work toward environmental justice.”

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05)

“I'm thrilled to see funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to flow into PA-05 and communities throughout the Commonwealth. This historic water infrastructure funding will improve the quality of life for Pennsylvanians by making much-needed investments in remediating our lead water pipes, preventing PFAS and other chemicals from leaking into our drinking water, and mitigating the devastating impacts of stormwater runoff.”

Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07)

“Water infrastructure, whether it be ensuring clean drinking water or mitigating flooding, is a critical component of healthy communities. This funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will give communities peace of mind knowing that their drinking water is both safe and reliable, that water pollution is being remedied, and that water-systems will be made more resilient in the face of increasing weather-related events.”

Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08)

“Everyone deserves access to clean, safe water and protection in the face of heightening extreme weather events. This much-needed and much-appreciated funding will expand access to clean drinking water, invest in projects that contain and treat wastewater, and improve outdoor recreational opportunities when it comes to Pennsylvania’s beautiful lakes, rivers and streams.”

Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Secretary, Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection

“This is a tremendous investment in ensuring that Pennsylvanians have safe water to drink and clean, fishable, swimmable rivers and streams. These funds will help protect drinking water from old threats like lead pipes and new and emerging concerns like PFAS contamination. It will also help with investments into new and upgraded infrastructure like drinking water mains and treatment plants, conveyance and collection systems, wastewater treatment plants, and stormwater systems to help restore and grow Pennsylvania. The investment also provides a source of funding for non-point source pollution reduction projects located inside and outside of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.”