The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing April 30 for water and wastewater experts to report on the impacts of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in addressing major infrastructure repairs and upgrades much needed by state and local agencies. The experts called repeatedly for Congress to fully appropriate funding at authorized levels for fiscal 2026. This would mean at least $3.25 billion for both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRFs and for the legislation to be reauthorized with increased infrastructure funding for rural communities, in particular, with focus on ways to improve the 2021 law's water infrastructure provisions.
The law, passed with bipartisan support that expires in 2026, included the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which provides the country’s largest federal investment in water infrastructure, delivering more than $50 billion for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater programs, committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.VA.) said.
The U.S. will need to invest at least $625 billion over the next 20 years in drinking water infrastructure and another $630 billion in wastewater and stormwater systems, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said, citing federal statistics.
Schiff listed a number of issues that communities face including struggles with old, dilapidated water infrastructure, lead pipes and the pervasive challenge of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination. “These systems need to be brought into the 21st Century,” Schiff said. He added that the U.S. Government Accountability Office has warned.
Witnesses pointed out that the IIJA water funding has been helpful to small and rural communities, especially funding for lead service line replacement, emerging contaminants, set-asides for disadvantaged communities and expansion of State Revolving Funds (SRFs) paired with technical assistance. The law has also respected local authority by avoiding new federal mandates on municipal systems. Other witnesses said the law helps address a “considerable” amount of deferred maintenance, repair and replacement and spurs overdue infrastructure projects. Low-cost financing as well as grant principal forgiveness has also helped push interest in the Drinking Water SRF.
Experts mentioned need for simplifying the funding process, especially for smaller communities that may lack technical expertise and resources of major metropolitan areas.