New Jersey slated to get a total of $168M for water infrastructure through Biden-Harris investing in America agenda
NEW JERSEY– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe.
New Jersey is slated to get more than $168 million for drinking water and wastewater improvements – including the $44 million that was announced as part of EPA’s announcement of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements earlier this month. This BIL funding will help communities across the state upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure.
This announcement includes allotments for New Jersey’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds totaling $101 million, Emerging Contaminant funds totaling $8.7 million, and $13.6 million in funds under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid. EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding.
Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to providing safe drinking water, resources needed to upgrade aging infrastructure, and address harmful contaminants,” says EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the critical funds to our governmental partners in New Jersey to ensure water quality and reduce pollution in our waterways.”
“I am proud to join EPA in announcing a total of $168 million in federal funding to transform New Jersey’s water infrastructure and reduce lead exposure across our state, especially for the communities that need it most,” said Senator Cory Booker. “The finalization of a strong rule for lead and copper last month, along with today’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, will create thousands of jobs and drastically improve the quality of drinking water not only for New Jersey, but for the entire nation. I am grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued work to ensure every family, regardless of zip code, has access to clean, safe drinking water.”
“New Jersey applauds the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to protecting the health of our kids and communities, and our precious water resources by promoting the replacement of lead service lines, removal of forever chemicals from our waters, and continued improvements to our wastewater and stormwater systems,” said Shawn M. LaTourette, New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection. “Under the leadership of Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey’s implementation of the Water Infrastructure Investment Plan to facilitate progress in meeting these ambitious and necessary goals has been bolstered by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, creating jobs across the state delivering clean water and better protecting public health and the state’s waters. We thank President Biden, Vice-President Harris, US EPA Administrator Regan, and our federal partners for their unwavering support in this important work.”
