On Wednesday, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced legislation to authorize $35 billion for water projects.  The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (S.914) includes key provisions for California water projects, including funding for ensuring safe drinking water for vulnerable communities and tackling California’s water debt crisis.  In particular for California, the bill includes:

  • The reauthorization of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, known as WIFIA, which has provided $3.3 billion in financing for California water projects.
  • Grants to assist small and disadvantaged communities that do not have safe drinking water, which is critical as California enters a second year of drought.
  • And a new Environmental Protection Agency pilot program to address water affordability, the Rural and Low-Income Drinking Water Assistance Pilot Program, which will provide direct financial assistance and debt relief to water systems serving predominantly low-income households.