BOSTON (Feb. 20, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced nearly $47.5 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Rhode Island drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. The funding is part of the over $50 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—the largest such investment in American history. Today’s announcement will support essential water infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies across the state. Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, ensuring funds reach underserved communities most in need of investments in water infrastructure.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda continues to transform communities for the better with this latest infusion of funds for critical water infrastructure projects,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With $50 billion in total, the largest investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history, EPA will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come.”
“Outdated infrastructure and aging pipes that fail; climate change impacts that cause sewer systems to overflow; emerging contaminants, like PFAS, that may affect our health—these are challenges that communities across our region face every day, especially in underserved and disadvantaged communities. With today’s announcement, we are allocating over $408 million of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to combat these challenges with much-needed water infrastructure projects across New England,” said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Every person, every child deserves safe and clean drinking water; and together with our state and local partners, we are financing upgrades to wastewater treatment plants, replacing old and aging water mains, and developing new filtration sites to remove contaminants from drinking water to make that a reality.”
We tend to take clean water for granted, but we can’t afford to take our water infrastructure for granted. We must strategically invest in upkeep and new projects to ensure Rhode Islanders have access to clean, safe, reliable drinking water and modern, effective wastewater collection and treatment facilities. This is a smart investment in public health and the health of our economy. Whether it’s from a tap, shower, or toilet, our water system is essential and we must ensure it works properly and reliably for all Rhode Islanders, both now and in the future,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.
“Safe drinking and wastewater systems are essential to good health and the wellbeing of our environment,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Rhode Island is able to make these kinds of generational investments in water infrastructure because of our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
“Everyone deserves access to clean water,” said Congressman Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will modernize our state’s water infrastructure, protecting the health of children and families while reducing pollution entering our rivers, ending up on our beaches, and flowing into Narragansett Bay.”
“Every Rhode Islander deserves access to safe, clean water,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “I’m grateful for the Biden Administration’s work to implement the historic bipartisan infrastructure law that invests these vital federal resources in our drinking and wastewater systems. Repairing and investing in our state’s water systems will protect our public health and support our economy. Our neighbors should applaud this tremendous news for the Ocean State.”
“Clean water infrastructure helps maintain the health of our local waters that are central to our environment, way of life, and economy here in the Ocean State,” said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. “Our state’s future will be shaped by the infrastructure choices we make today, and Rhode Island is grateful for the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will be invested in a range of projects that will help keep our waters clean.”
“We are in a period of historic levels of investment toward improving clean water infrastructure,” said Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Terry Gray. “Rhode Island’s CWSRF program provides financing for priority water quality projects that help protect our waterways, the health of our families, and supports our economy. The clean water infrastructure that will be enabled by this critical funding will help build Rhode Island’s resilience for projected increases in storm intensities, rainfall amounts, and rising seas from climate change.”
Communities across the country are facing water infrastructure challenges. Many cities and towns have aging water infrastructure—old, broken or lead pipes carrying drinking water and wastewater treatment plants in need of major upgrades. Some communities struggle to maintain adequate stormwater infrastructure to effectively manage flood impacts from climate change and others need to upgrade their water treatment to address emerging contaminants like PFAS.
The funding EPA announced for Rhode Island is part of a $5.8 billion investment through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), one of EPA’s signature water investment programs. This multi-billion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges, with $2.6 billion going to the Clean Water SRF for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and $3.2 billion going to the Drinking Water SRF for drinking water infrastructure nationwide. Today’s announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law General Supplemental funds and Emerging Contaminant funds for SRF programs for fiscal year 2024. EPA anticipates announcing allocations for billions of dollars in additional resources for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund later this spring.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Action in Rhode Island
Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has injected over $187 million into water infrastructure projects across Rhode Island—protecting public health, preserving water resources, and creating jobs—including:
- $10 million to the University of Rhode Island to investigate and address local PFAS contamination.
- $1 million to evaluate drainage areas and develop recommendations for improved water quality treatment infrastructure and stormwater management practices in Providence, RI.
To view stories about how the unpreceded investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s new Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about some additional projects that are underway, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
Background
The Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and the Clean Water State Revolving Funds have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure—payment of principal and interest on loans made are available to address future needs.
For more information, including state-by-state allocation of 2024 funding, and a breakdown of EPA State Revolving Fund funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website.