EPA funding boosts clean-water efforts in Pennsylvania, Virginia

Pennsylvania and Virginia are the latest states to receive a big federal boost to their efforts to improve the safety of their drinking water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in a pair of announcements released Wednesday.

The EPA awarded nearly $387 million to Pennsylvania to upgrade infrastructure to help deliver cleaner, safer water to residents and another $62.3 million to Virginia. Most of the funding announced is being made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

The funding — $340.6 million for Pennsylvania and $47 million for Virginia — supplements the money the EPA awarded for FY 2023 to the states’ clean drinking water revolving state funds (SRFs).

Each state has a list of upcoming projects ranked by priority to be funded through their SRFs, which make low- and no-interest loans available for those projects. The BIL funds awarded by the EPA help the states move those projects through the queue more quickly.

Topping Pennsylvania’s priority list is a $13.3 million project to replace a total of 988 lead service lines at 1,200 homes and a $7.8 million project to replace service lines for an additional 752 customers. Ranking third is an $11.7 million project to upgrade a water treatment plant in Northern Cambria to provide continuous filtration and disinfection.

Virginia’s list is led by a $5.2 million project to improve capacity and reduce contaminants from rainfall inflow for BVU Authority customers in Southwest Virginia. A $2.9 project to replace piping in Lebanon ranks second, and an $11 million project to improve capacity and reduce sanitary sewer overflows in Big Stone Gap ranks third.

Helping communities eliminate contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from their water systems was also a chief concern, EPA Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz said. PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemical components that break down very slowly over time. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals, the EPA said.

“These awards show that EPA is not just a regulator – but is a funder and partner,” Ortiz said. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensures communities most in need and those grappling with emerging contaminants such as PFAS have access to funding that will deliver cleaner and safer water for generations to come.”

^{Strategic Partnerships, Inc. can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact research@spartnerships.com.}