The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (BID) or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—was signed into law on November 15, 2021. It allocates $50 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure between FY 2022 and 2026.
Most of this funding will be distributed through EPA’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The bill says that 49% of funds will be given as grants and 51% as low-interest loans, but it has not been announced how this will be determined.
Vermont will receive $63 million for the Clean Water SRF and Drinking Water SRF in 2022. This is more than three times the normal federal SRF allotment.
Goals
In addition to water and wastewater infrastructure funding allocated to the SRF program, the IIJA provides targeted funding for a number of goals:
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- Replace lead pipes and service lines (both publicly and privately owned, and in schools and child care facilities)
- Address emerging contaminants like PFAS in drinking water and wastewater
- Target small, rural, and disadvantaged communities
- New competitive grant program for water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people
- Pilot program to help low-income households with water bills
- Climate resilience and natural disaster preparedness
- Cybersecurity for water and wastewater systems
- Improve efficiency and implement advanced technology at water utilities
- Develop infrastructure asset maps
- Buy American iron, steel, and manufactured products when possible
- $40 million to protect Lake Champlain
How to Apply
The funding and application are not available yet. Watch for an announcement of Vermont’s SRF Intended Use Plans in summer 2022.
In the meantime, you can inventory your system’s needs and potential projects, and talking with your municipality about ARPA funding.