President Joe Biden recently released an ambitious infrastructure plan called the "American Jobs Plan” that includes an unprecedented $111 billion investment in water infrastructure. 

US Water Alliance was among the environmental and infrastructure organizations applauding the proposal. "It is heartening to see water be prominently featured in the plan after years of water infrastructure being out of sight and out of mind," the Alliance said in a press release. "We commend today’s commitment to water infrastructure as a reflection and recognition of political will to take action to begin to close the water infrastructure investment gap."

The plan reflects many of US Water Alliance's recommendations highlighted in the 2020 paper “The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure” produced by the Alliance’s Value of Water Campaign and the American Society of Civil Engineers. There are also a number of funding priorities articulated in the Alliance’s Federal Policy Blueprint, released last month as part of its Recovering Stronger Initiative.

Highlights of the American Jobs Plan:

• To eliminate all lead pipes and service lines in the country, the plan calls for $45 billion in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act grants.
• To modernize aging drinking water, stormwater and wastewater systems by scaling up existing, successful programs, the plan calls for providing $56 billion in grants and low-cost flexible loans to states, Tribes, territories and disadvantaged communities across the country.
• Finally, the plan includes $10 billion in funding to monitor and remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and to invest in rural small water systems and household well and wastewater systems, including drainage fields.

The Alliance reported that it will monitor the implementation of Biden’s plan and related Congressional legislation closely. "We anticipate the House will introduce its version of an infrastructure bill in the coming months, and we hope to see legislative movement in the Senate this summer as well."