Public Utility Finance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $25.5 million in grant funding for technical assistance providers to help small, rural, and Tribal communities address wastewater infrastructure challenges to protect human health and comply with the Clean Water Act. EPA said the workRead More

Earlier in April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $30 million in grant funding, as part of the agency’s RealWaterTA Initiative. The new funding will support technical assistance and training to benefit small drinking water and wastewater systems and private well owners. The newly available RealWaterTA funding helps connect small and rural drinking water and wastewaterRead More

The White House recently released its budget request for fiscal year 2027 (FY2027), which, similar to its FY2026 request, included more proposed cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs). According to an analysis in the Association of MetropolitanRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on its Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) guidance. This non-regulatory guidance is an important resource that helps local water bills remain affordable as wastewater systems plan for needed infrastructure upgrades, including for theirRead More

On March 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) initiative. The agency called it a back-to-basics approach to support drinking water and wastewater systems using proven, best-practice approaches to address local needs while partnering with states and Tribes.Read More

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently announced an investment of $559.4 million for 36 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and non-point source projects across 25 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The projects awarded funding will replace lead service lines, rehabilitate aging systems, upgrade treatment and service capabilities andRead More

A group of stakeholders known as the Public Finance Network, which includes several associations representing water utility interests, recently wrote to Congress to urge preservation of the municipal bond tax exemption. Tax-exempt municipal bonds are a critical financing tool for drinking and clean water agenciesRead More

By John Ryan In response to the Trump administration’s slowdown of loan processing at the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, four water advocacy groups sent a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin in October last year asking for normal processing to resume. InRead More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced more than $351 million in funding for the City of Fort Worth, Texas. The funds include an approved loan of $347 million from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and selection of Fort WorthRead More

In November, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Amendments of 2025 aimed at broadening funding provided by WIFIA loan program at U.S. EPA. The amendments were introduced by U.S. Reps. Kim SchrierRead More