EPA Announces $67 Million Grant Program to Assist Communities With Storm Water Management
The U.S. EPA announced the availability of $67 million in grant funding through the new Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program.
According to EPA, the funding assists states and cities in improving storm water management to address sewer overflows and reduce pollution that can flow into local waterways. This grant program will provide funding for critical overflow and storm water infrastructure projects in communities, according to EPA.
“While utilities do an incredible job of managing wastewater and safely returning it to the environment, increased water from heavy rains and storms can challenge and even circumvent this great work,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox in the press release. “Under America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, this new grant program empowers EPA’s state, local, and utility partners to improve storm water management and benefit communities.”
States, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia can apply for funding and once awarded, the funds will be provided as sub-awards to municipal entities for projects that address infrastructure needs, including: CSOs, sanitary sewer overflows (SSO), and storm water management.
According to EPA, the $67 million investment in water infrastructure will create over a thousand direct and indirect jobs.
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 amended section 221 of the Clean Water Act, which reauthorized the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants program. These amendments expanded project eligibility to include storm water management projects and authorized appropriations for the program, according to ePA. Grants will be awarded to states, which will then provide sub-awards to eligible entities for projects that address infrastructure needs for CSOs, SSOs, and storm water management.
