As part of the federal funding that is spurring similar water and wastewater infrastructure plans and projects around the nation, New Jersey recently announced its initial plans for $1 billion in funding for water and wastewater infrastructure over the next five years.
Although it’s only a small part of the estimated $30 billion the state needs for water/wastewater infrastructure, officials expressed their excitement about the funding, according to NBC 4 New York.
Funds will be dispersed over time, and an influx of $170 million is expected for 2022. Officials are planning to hold meetings for what it’s calling its Water Infrastructure Investment Plan, which will decide how the funding will be spent.
State of Maryland Sues Baltimore Over Wastewater Discharges
The state of Maryland has filed a lawsuit against the City of Baltimore because of untreated wastewater discharges into the Chesapeake Bay by two treatment facilities.
The lawsuit lists 19 permit violations between the two plants, according to Maryland Matters.
“Our top enforcement priority is getting the city’s world-class treatment plants back into compliance immediately so we stay on track with the 2025 Chesapeake Bay restoration goal,” Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles said in a statement, according to the newspaper.
EPA Announces New WIFIA Loans Totaling $688 Million
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans totaling $688 million to help finance water infrastructure projects in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and the San Francisco Bay area.
In the first year of the Biden-Harris administration, EPA closed 29 WIFIA loans that are investing over $5 billion in communities across the country to protect public health and the environment while creating over 36,000 jobs.
“In my first year as EPA Administrator, I have visited communities from coast to coast. I’ve seen aging infrastructure that communities count on for clean and safe water. I’ve seen the harm that is caused when water systems fail, and I’ve seen the revitalization that comes with new investment,” says EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
