House appropriators introduced their fiscal 2026 funding bill for the Interior Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, proposing significant budget cuts for both agencies. It would include major cuts to the EPA's Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds.
"While the House's FY26 appropriations bill avoids the most extreme SRF cuts proposed in the president's budget request, its 20% reduction to DWSRF funding would undoubtedly restrict water systems' already strained budgets and ability to maintain current levels of service," Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies CEO Tom Dobbins said in a statement.
National Utility Contractors Association Vice President of Government Affairs Zack Perconti also released a statement accusing Congress of playing politics with the nation's public health and water/wastewater systems. "Our industry’s projects are the foundation for building healthy, vibrant communities and a strong economy. While these cuts are less than those previously suggested, any cuts to water infrastructure spending are a mistake we literally cannot afford to make."
Vandals Cause Pump Stoppage at Maine WWTP
A wastewater treatment plant in Rockland, Maine, saw over $10,000 in damages after vandals entered the facility overnight. The vandals destroyed an industrial-size air conditioner, causing an electrical outage that disabled critical pumps.
The outage triggered an alarm, prompting operators and the director to respond in the early hours of the morning, where they found sewage in a tank close to overflowing. An operator manually controlled the pump to prevent a spill. The city plans to install a surveillance system as a result of the incident.
New Data Shows Water Reuse Market Poised for Expansion
Research from Global Water Intelligence recently published on GWI DesalData reveals how decision-makers are adopting wastewater reuse at record levels, as part of long-term water security strategies, with the market reaching an inflection point with regards to potable and high-value industrial applications.
Global reuse capacity has doubled in the last eight years, but there is still a major gap to be filled to meet the water scarcity challenge posed by climate change. Read more about it here.
