USEPA grants nearly $23 million for Am Samoa water infrastructure upgrades
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) announced on Tuesday nearly $23 million ($22,787,000) from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for American Samoa drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades.
The funding is part of a $5.8 billion investment through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), one of EPA’s signature water investment programs.
This multi-billion-dollar investment will fund American Samoan-run, low-interest loan programs to address critical challenges, with $2.6 billion going to the Clean Water SRF for wastewater and storm water infrastructure and $3.2 billion going to the Drinking Water SRF for drinking water infrastructure nationwide.
The announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law General Supplemental funds and Emerging Contaminant funds for SRF programs for fiscal year 2024. EPA anticipates announcing allocations for billions of dollars in additional resources for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund later this Spring.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda continues to transform communities for the better with this latest infusion of funds for critical water infrastructure projects,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With $50 billion in total, the largest investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history, EPA will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come.”
"All people deserve the peace of mind that the water they drink, swim and bathe in, and use to feed their families is safe, readily available, and clean," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "Thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is making this a reality for tens of millions of Americans throughout the Pacific Southwest, especially those that need it the most. In partnership with communities and state leaders, we're investing in cutting-edge technology, infrastructure, and nature-based solutions to provide sustainable, clean water that will improve the health and quality of life for communities and the environment."
BACKGROUND
Communities across the country are facing urgent water infrastructure challenges. Many cities and towns have aging water infrastructure – old, broken, or lead pipes carrying drinking water and wastewater treatment plants needing major upgrades. Some communities struggle to maintain adequate stormwater infrastructure to manage flood impacts from climate change effectively; others need to upgrade their water treatment to address emerging contaminants like PFAS.
Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has injected over $78 million ($78,106,000) into water infrastructure projects across American Samoa to protect public health, preserve water resources, and create jobs.
This funding is part of over $50 billion in water infrastructure upgrade investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in American history.
Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, ensuring funds reach disadvantaged and underserved communities most in need of investments in water infrastructure.