Biden Announces $50M in Available Grants to Upgrade Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure
States now can apply for grant assistance to fund projects that will help municipalities strengthen their stormwater collection systems.
According to the EPA, stormwater can be a significant source of water pollution and a public health concern. Stormwater can collect various pollutants including trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment and convey them to nearby waterways. When mixed with domestic and industrial wastewater in combined sewers, stormwater can also contribute to combined sewer overflows during heavy storm events.
EPA is working with local and state partners to leverage the resources of the federal government to meet the needs of these communities. In the past, states and communities shared a fixed portion of the costs associated with all projects funded through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changed the program so that 25% of Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program funds go to available projects in small and/or financially distressed communities; it also limited states’ abilities to pass on the burden of cost-sharing to these communities. To encourage investment in these critical projects, EPA modified the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program so that state grantees are not required to contribute cost-share money for Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program projects located in small or financially distressed communities. However, grant portions that go to communities other than small or financially distressed communities will include a cost-share requirement.
