USVI To Receive $21M in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for Water Improvements

On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe, the agency announced.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is slated to receive almost $21 million for drinking water and wastewater improvements, including the $9 million announced as part of the EPA’s announcement of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements earlier this month. This BIL funding will help communities across the islands upgrade water infrastructure essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses, according to the press release. These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership.

This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure, the press release stated. Wednesday’s announcement includes allotments for Puerto Rico’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds totaling $8 million, Emerging Contaminant funds totaling $693,000 and $2.7 million in funds under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund, the release stated.