Wisconsin Awarded $142 Million to Address PFAS, Lead Pipes
Federal funding comes from bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Federal environmental regulators have announced Wisconsin will receive $142.7 million to target removal of lead pipes, harmful forever chemicals and water challenges in underserved communities as part of the first allocation under the bipartisan infrastructure law.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announced the funding Thursday as part of $7.4 billion awarded to states and tribes under the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15.
Around half of the funding will be made available as grants or loans to provide to rural and urban communities.
“Billions of dollars are about to start flowing to states and it is critical that EPA partners with states, Tribes, and territories to ensure the benefits of these investments are delivered in the most equitable way,” said Regan in a news release.
In a letter to Gov. Tony Evers, Regan urged prioritizing grants for disadvantaged communities.
“To further aid states, tribes, local governments and water systems, the EPA will also provide technical assistance to help disadvantaged communities overcome barriers in applying for and receiving loans and grants through the (state revolving loan funds),” wrote Regan.
State revolving loan fund programs offer low-cost financing to help communities repair or upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure.
Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Water Radhika Fox will soon issue guidance to state agencies on how they should use the funding provided under the law. In his letter, Regan urged states to correct disparities with funding, make progress on replacing lead service lines and provide relief to communities struggling with contamination from harmful perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
As for PFAS, state environmental regulators have detected 51 sites within 25 communities that have PFAS polluted groundwater. However, less than 1 percent of the state’s more than 11,000 public water supplies have been tested for the chemicals. PFAS has been found in public and private wells in communities across the state, including Peshtigo, Campbell, Marinette, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Rhinelander and Madison.
The funding under the infrastructure bill represents the single largest investment in water infrastructure in decades, but the needs are great. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates Wisconsin water and wastewater systems need around $15 billion over the next two decades to address aging infrastructure.
Wisconsin receives $142M to combat water challenges under bipartisan infrastructure law was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the Lead Crisis
- Baldwin Delivers $850,000 to Reduce Lead in Schools and Childcare Facilities Throughout Wisconsin - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Aug 29th, 2024
- Baldwin Delivers Over $83 Million to Replace Lead Pipes, Expand Access to Safe Drinking Water - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - May 2nd, 2024
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Milwaukee Designation as Workforce Hub - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Apr 26th, 2024
- Biden Announces Milwaukee As New “Workforce Hub” For Lead Pipe Removal - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 25th, 2024
- Senator Baldwin Delivers Nearly $2 Million to Keep Wausau Families Safe from Lead Contamination - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Apr 12th, 2024
- IRS Rules that Homeowners Won’t Have to Pay Additional Taxes for Subsidized Replacement of Lead Pipes - Milwaukee Water Works - Feb 29th, 2024
- Milwaukee Makes It Far Easier To Replace Your Lead Service Line - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 18th, 2023
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Praises Biden Administration Effort to Remove Lead Pipes in 10 Years - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Nov 30th, 2023
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Partnership with 10 Wisconsin Communities to Accelerate Lead Service Line Replacement as Part of Investing in America Agenda - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Nov 2nd, 2023
- Evers, DNR Announce $402 Million Funding to Improve Local Drinking Water - Henry Redman - Oct 24th, 2023
Read more about Lead Crisis here
More about the PFAS Problem
- State Supreme Court Agrees to Take WMC Toxic Pollution Case - Midwest Environmental Advocates - Sep 11th, 2024
- 2017 Law Resulting in Long List of Outdated DNR Water Standards - Danielle Kaeding - Sep 5th, 2024
- Murphy’s Law: Is Milorganite Making People Sick? - Bruce Murphy - Sep 4th, 2024
- Wisconsin Seeks To Match PFAS Rules To Federal Regulations - Danielle Kaeding - Aug 27th, 2024
- PFAS in Foam Far Worse Than Water in Wisconsin’s Rivers, Lakes - Danielle Kaeding - Jul 10th, 2024
- Lawmakers At Odds Over Releasing Health, PFAS Funds - Erik Gunn - Jun 6th, 2024
- Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Governor’s Vetoes - Baylor Spears - May 15th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Sues Republican Legislators for Continued Obstruction of Investments Intended to Address Pressing Challenges Facing Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - May 13th, 2024
- Legislators Agree on Opioid Plan, Still Withhold PFAS, Hospital Funds - Erik Gunn - May 8th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Again Calls Republican Lawmakers into Special Meeting to Urge Immediate Release of $140 Million to Fight PFAS Statewide, Respond to Hospital Closures in Western Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - May 6th, 2024
Read more about PFAS Problem here