$444 million to improve wastewater infrastructure in 50 Wisconsin communities

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have announced the allocation of $444 million to improve wastewater infrastructure in 50 municipalities across the state.

The funding, provided through the Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP), will support projects aimed at reducing phosphorus discharges, addressing aging infrastructure, and improving water quality, particularly in small and disadvantaged communities.

"We’re working to make sure Wisconsinites have safe, clean water straight from their tap to drink and that community water systems are safe, reliable, and can help effectively prevent harmful contaminants from being in our water supplies," Gov. Evers said. "Thanks to programs like the CWFP and help from the Biden-Harris Administration, these investments will go a long way toward building the 21st-century infrastructure we need to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean and safe water across our state."

The CWFP has been supporting wastewater and urban stormwater infrastructure projects since 1991, providing over $6.1 billion in assistance to municipalities across Wisconsin. This round of funding includes $399.9 million in subsidized loans and $44.1 million in principal forgiveness, which reduces the financial burden on municipalities by offering loans with reduced interest rates and forgivable portions of the funding.

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Wisconsin’s CWFP has been boosted with an additional $900 million in federal funding for the 2022-2026 period. The law also allocates $1 billion to address emerging contaminants like PFAS in wastewater and stormwater systems nationwide. As a result, the CWFP funding list for state fiscal year (FY) 2025 includes projects to address these contaminants, marking the third year of funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

For the first time in the program’s history, loan demand has surpassed available funding, with total CWFP demand for FY25 exceeding $535 million. The DNR has exhausted its bonding authority and can only allocate funding to some of the applicants. Additional funding may be available if more resources are secured.

Gov. Evers has made water quality a top priority since taking office, declaring 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water to highlight the importance of clean, safe water for Wisconsinites. “We are committed to ensuring every Wisconsin family has clean, safe water straight from their tap,” he said.

The funds will be disbursed over the next year as municipalities incur eligible costs. This includes $354.7 million from the DNR’s revolving loan fund, along with additional federal capitalization grant funding for PFAS contaminants and the Supplemental Clean Water BIL program.

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