Unprecedented funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is transforming communities across the state

BOSTON (Feb. 20, 2024) – Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $151 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda for Massachusetts 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.

"This much-needed funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean water and safe drinking water will keep our communities healthy from disease, toxic chemicals, and pollution. I thank the Biden administration for working hard to get these life-saving dollars to the drainpipes and drinking fountains of cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. I will continue to work in Congress to secure the full scope of necessary funding to expand, replace, and repair aging water infrastructure and to protect Massachusetts' fair share of this critical investment," said Senator Markey.

"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"Outdated infrastructure and aging pipes that fail; climate change impacts that cause sewer systems to overflow; emerging contaminants, like PFAS, that may affect our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 are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for directing significant federal funding to Massachusetts so we can help our communities update aging but critical water infrastructure," said Governor Maura Healey. "As we confront impacts from climate change across the state, this funding will accelerate resiliency adaptation and support our most vulnerable communities in making needed upgrades to provide safe and reliable drinking water for generations to come."

"Our communities deserve water infrastructure that fully serves their needs, protects residents from harm, and preserves our natural resources," said Commissioner Bonnie Heiple of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. "This funding will make a real difference in addressing combined sewer overflows that affect water quality and our environment, and removing contaminants like PFAS from our drinking water."

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 Massachusetts 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.