Hawaii will receive over $50 million from the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades.
The funding, at least half of which will be made available in the form of grants or principal-forgiveness loans, comes as part of a $5.8 billion investment via the EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, itself part of $50 billion in overall water infrastructure investment via the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda.
“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 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.”
EPA Pacific Southwest regional administrator Martha Guzman said the investment is based on the belief that “all people deserve the peace of mind that the water they drink, swim and bathe in, and use to feed their families is safe, readily available and clean.”
“In partnership with communities and state leaders, we’re investing in cutting-edge technology, infrastructure, and nature-based solutions to provide sustainable, clean water that will improve the health and quality of life for communities and the environment,” Guzman said.
As the EPA noted in a release issued on Wednesday, many cities and towns across the United States have aging water infrastructure, including old, broken or lead pipes and wastewater treatment plants that need major upgrades.
The State Revolving Funds program funds state-run, low-interest loan programs to address issues related to wastewater, stormwater and drinking water infrastructure.
The EPA said it expects to announce the allocation of billions of dollars in further resources for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund later this spring.
Over the last two years, the state has received nearly $194 million in water infrastructure projects via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
