FY23 budget proposal would expand drinking water funds, affordability assistance

The FY23 budget request released by the White House would boost EPA spending to $11.9 billion in 2023, (an increase from $9.56 billion in FY22), while providing full funding for a new drinking water system resilience program long championed by the drinking water sector and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). The budget plan also proposes to expand a long-established home energy assistance program to allow it to help low-income families pay water and wastewater bills.

Under the Biden Administration’s budget plan for EPA, funding for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs would remain flat next year, at $1.126 billion and $1.639 billion, respectively. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program would receive roughly $80 million (including administrative expenses), about $10 million more than FY22. EPA said this level of funding would support up to $8 billion in direct credit assistance.