EPA adds $21.5 million for Nebraska to $6.2 billion water infrastructure spending

(UI) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced additional spending under the current administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure law.  Nearly $21.5 million will be added to an existing $6.2 billion in investments for fiscal year 2025.  These funds are intended to help communities across the country upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools and businesses.

These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), 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 announcement included allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for Nebraska ($12,728,000), Emerging Contaminant funds ($1,099,000), and $7,640,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.

This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure that these investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.

“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges – from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.” 

“Communities across our region with aging water infrastructure and contamination concerns will benefit from this funding,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “We look forward to working with our state partners as they distribute these funds to make critical water infrastructure upgrades attainable and affordable, especially for our rural small towns.”

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