The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant boost to Michigan’s water infrastructure with an allocation of more than $177 million from President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This funding is part of the monumental $50 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dedicated to nationwide water infrastructure improvements, marking the largest investment of its kind in American history.
The EPA’s announcement promises to enhance essential water infrastructure in Michigan, safeguarding public health and the state’s valuable water resources. Notably, nearly half of the allocated funds are earmarked as grants or principal forgiveness loans, targeting underserved communities in dire need of water infrastructure enhancements.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan highlighted the transformative impact of President Biden’s agenda, stating, “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 Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore underscored the financial challenges many communities face in maintaining and updating their water systems. She remarked on the significance of the announcement as a financial boost for state and local partners dedicated to managing water resources and improving quality of life.
Echoing the sentiment of impactful change, Senator Debbie Stabenow celebrated the law’s role in making Michigan a safer and better place for families, through improved water systems and pollution cleanup. “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to deliver for Michigan. This new investment will improve our water systems, clean up pollution, keep our drinking water safe, fix old pipes, and more. Step-by-step, this law is making our state a safer, better place for families to live,” said Stabenow.
Senator Gary Peters welcomed the federal support, emphasizing the access to safe drinking water it would provide to Michiganders and Americans nationwide. “I welcome this announcement that more than $176 million of this federal support is coming to Michigan to provide our communities with the resources needed to modernize their drinking water systems.”
Representatives from Michigan’s congressional delegation, including Dan Kildee, Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib, Hillary Scholten, and Shri Thanedar, lauded the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for its role in creating jobs, replacing lead pipes, and ensuring equitable water access. They stressed the fundamental human right to clean and safe water and committed to continuing the fight to bring federal resources to Michigan communities.
Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, highlighted the added federal funding’s role in accelerating the modernization of community water systems across the state, leading to cleaner drinking water for Michigan families.
The EPA’s funding for Michigan is part of a broader $5.8 billion investment through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), aimed at addressing critical water infrastructure challenges nationwide. This includes investments in wastewater, stormwater infrastructure, and drinking water systems, with additional allocations expected in the coming fiscal year.
“This historic investment in water infrastructure funding will help communities make lasting improvements in the quality of Michigander’s drinking water,” said Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and energy. “With more than half of EGLE’s budget going into Michigan communities in the form of grants and loans, this added federal funding will accelerate the modernization of community water systems across our state and lead to cleaner drinking water for Michigan families.”
Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has contributed $629 million to water infrastructure projects in Michigan, supporting public health, preserving water resources, and creating job opportunities.
For more information on the impact of these investments and specific projects underway, the EPA encourages visiting their new Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap and the latest Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
The SRF programs, foundational to water infrastructure investments for over three decades, continue to play a pivotal role in enhancing the nation’s water quality and public health through sustainable and low-cost financing for local projects.
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