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EPA Recognizes Excellence and Innovation in Local Water Infrastructure Projects Across the Nation

 News Release:

EPA Recognizes Excellence and Innovation in Local Water Infrastructure Projects Across the Nation

DALLAS, TEXAS (April 10, 2026) –This week, at the 2026 Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA) Summit on Water Infrastructure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer helped recognize 48 water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation. Each project, financed in part by the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, demonstrated the importance of water infrastructure for supporting healthy Americans and laying a foundation for economic prosperity.

“Across the country, states are putting State Revolving Fund resources to work in ways that deliver real, lasting benefits for communities by modernizing aging systems, strengthening resilience, and ensuring families can rely on safe, clean water every day,” said Assistant Administrator Jess Kramer. “These projects show that when we pair federal investment with state leadership, we can protect human health, support local economies, and reach communities that have too often been left behind.”

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs have provided a foundation of federal investment in water infrastructure for decades. The SRF programs directly support EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which emphasizes the need for clean air, land, and water for every American and the importance of cooperative federalism.

Drinking Water: AQUARIUS Awards

EPA’s AQUARIUS program celebrates drinking water projects financed in part by the DWSRFs that are innovative, resilient, and protect public health. Twenty-two projects carried out by state or local governments and drinking water utilities were recognized by the 2026 AQUARIUS program, including these exceptional projects:

• Excellence in Innovative Financing: Nassau County – American Beach Water and Sewer District, Florida
• Excellence in System Partnerships: Scituate Housing Authority, Rhode Island
• Excellence in Community Engagement: City of Baltimore, Maryland
• Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection: City of Westbrook, Minnesota
• Excellence in Infrastructure Designed for the Future: City of Antioch, California

Clean Water: PISCES Awards

EPA’s George F. Ames PISCES program celebrates innovation demonstrated by wastewater and stormwater projects financed by the CWSRF programs. Twenty-six projects carried out by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the 2026 PISCES program, including the following exceptional projects:

• Excellence in Innovative Financing: City of Roswell, New Mexico
• Excellence in System Partnerships: Western Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority, New York
• Excellence in Community Engagement: Nassau County, Florida
• Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection: Lummi Tribal Sewer and Water District, Washington
• Excellence in Infrastructure Designed for the Future: City of Escondido, California

EPA also recognized state SRF programs through the new State Excellence Recognition Program, which celebrates high-performing state SRF programs that demonstrate outstanding financial and program management and effective delivery of assistance across both the CWSRF and DWSRF. Three state SRF programs were recognized by the program, including one state from the DWSRF and two from the CWSRF for exceptional overall program performance to protect public health and the environment.

• DWSRF State Excellence Award: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• CWSRF State Excellence Award: Oklahoma Water Resources Board
• CWSRF State Excellence Honorable Mention: Indiana Finance Authority

See the full list of recognized projects and learn more about the AQUARIUS and PISCES programs.

Background

The State Revolving Fund programs are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. Since their creation, the SRFs have provided over $265 billion in financial assistance to more than 50,000 water quality infrastructure projects and 76,000 drinking water projects across the country.

EPA Announces $34 Million WIFIA Loan to Improve Stormwater Management in San Mateo County, California

 News Release:

April 7, 2026

Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) 

DALY CITY, Calif. (April 7, 2026) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a $34 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Daly City Joint Powers Financing Authority to increase the capacity of its stormwater management system to reduce the risk of flooding that impacts communities in San Mateo County, California.  

“This project will deliver critical water infrastructure upgrades to better protect San Mateo County communities from flooding, stabilize Lake Merced’s water levels and improve regional water quality,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Region Water Division Director Tomás Torres. “EPA’s low-interest, flexible water infrastructure financing helps communities make investments in protecting public health and natural resources while uplifting local economies.”

The Daly City Joint Powers Financing Authority will use WIFIA financing for its Vista Grande Drainage Basin Improvement Project, which will increase capacity and reroute stormwater runoff to Lake Merced. This project will include replacing an undersized canal, enlarging its tunnel, upgrading the existing overflow system to Lake Merced, and building a new outlet structure to the Pacific Ocean. These stormwater system improvements will help stabilize Lake Merced’s surface levels and improve regional water quality.

EPA’s WIFIA program will provide the Daly City Joint Powers Financing Authority flexibility to draw funds as needed and access cash on hand to pay for project components, which reduces upfront project costs. As a result, EPA’s WIFIA financing will save the Authority approximately $2.6 million over the life of the loan. Construction and operations will create an estimated 500 jobs.

"This Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act loan represents a critical investment in Daly City and the region’s infrastructure and environmental stewardship,” said City Manager Thomas J. Piccolotti. “The Vista Grande Drainage Basin Improvement Project will enhance system reliability, protect water quality, and support our community for generations to come. We appreciate the EPA’s partnership in helping advance this vital work."

EPA’s WIFIA program provides a powerful financial tool that can significantly accelerate investments in water infrastructure to protect human health and the environment while saving communities millions of dollars. Since issuing its first loan in 2018, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced $23 billion in financing water infrastructure projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 172,000 jobs. Through its flexible financing features and competitive interest rates, WIFIA helps communities save money, and even accelerate water infrastructure investments.

WIFIA funding is available to support additional water infrastructure projects, including up to $6.5 billion available to water systems and another $550 million available to State infrastructure financing authorities. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest.

Learn more about EPA's WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments, including how to submit a letter of interest.
 

Background   

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program aims to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.  

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