The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) has surpassed $10 billion in disbursements to borrowers for water infrastructure projects.
American Water Works Association (AWWA) CEO David LaFrance released a statement commemorating the milestone:
“At a time when federal programs that support water infrastructure funding are at risk, it is reassuring to know that WIFIA is fulfilling its purpose for the benefit of so many communities nationwide. The more than $10 billion disbursed to spur water infrastructure investment will improve communities today and for future generations through safe and reliable water and wastewater service.
“WIFIA represents a perfect balance between federal assistance and local responsibility, providing long-term loans that lower the cost of borrowing and make critical large-scale water projects more affordable to communities and individual households. Without WIFIA loans to complement other financing tools, many critical infrastructure improvements could simply not move forward.
“AWWA’s 2025 State of the Water Industry Report found that financing for capital improvements and infrastructure renewal and replacement are the top two concerns for water professionals. Programs like WIFIA and State Revolving Funds (SRFs) are efficient, strategic funding that keep our communities strong and healthy. They should be celebrated and fully funded.
“AWWA members played a central role in the creation of WIFIA more than a decade ago. They provided U.S. Congress with facts about the water infrastructure challenge and advocated for a new loan program to help confront that challenge. With the help of many water sector partners, WIFIA became law in 2014.
“As of January 2025, WIFIA had already closed 140 loans for projects in 48 states and territories, $22 billion to help finance $48 billion in water infrastructure projects, including more than $1 billion in projects addressing lead in drinking water.
“Proposed cuts to the federal budget would reduce WIFIA and SRFs by as much as 90 percent. Any reduction of funding for these programs would represent a significant setback for the health of our water systems and the people they serve. In our journey toward a better world through better water, AWWA members will continue to urge their representatives to support WIFIA and other programs that recognize the importance of water infrastructure and federal-local partnerships.”
About WIFIA
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) established the WIFIA program, an EPA-operated bank that provides supplemental, flexible, low-cost credit assistance to public and private borrowers for all types of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects. The WIFIA program offers long-term loans that can be combined with State Revolving Fund assistance, municipal bonds, and federal and state grants to help communities deliver more critical water infrastructure projects for a lower cost with less impact on rate payers. Like a bank, the WIFIA program has funding available on an ongoing basis. This allows prospective borrowers to request financing on their schedule. Prospective borrowers can apply for and receive WIFIA loans at nearly any stage of project completion and can even receive financing for planning and design-only loans.
For more, visit the EPA’s WIFIA page.
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