EPA Program Invests in Resilient Water Systems
One new program championed by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) is the Environmental Protection Agency’s Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program. This competitive program will offer grant money to help eligible water systems (defined as those serving more than 10,000 people) increase their resilience by supporting projects focused on objectives including:
- Water conservation, reuse or efficiency
- Modification or relocation of infrastructure threatened by climate change or extreme weather
- Energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy generation
- Development or implementation of measures to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities
The program is based on a similar 2018 EPA initiative that focused on building resilience for drinking water systems that serve small or disadvantaged communities. With both in place, along with a resilience program exclusively serving the nation’s wastewater systems, AMWA is eager to see the EPA set out the program terms and begin offering grant opportunities to water systems from coast to coast.