Senator Baldwin Helps Deliver Over $62 Million for Clean Drinking Water in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Wisconsin will receive an additional $62.7 million investment under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Senator Tammy Baldwin supported, to help communities upgrade essential water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure, including replacing lead service lines and addressing emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The $62 million investment allocates funds to the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF), which provide below-market rate loans and grants to fund water infrastructure improvements to protect public health and the environment. Key provisions of Senator Baldwin’s Made in America Act wereincluded in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, ensuring that American iron and steel are used in the construction of the water infrastructure under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

“In Wisconsin, water is central to our way of life. From our fresh coasts on Lake Michigan and Superior to the small rural water systems, keeping our waters safe and free of toxic chemicals is crucial for commerce, recreation, and the health of every Wisconsinite,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because it is helping provide Wisconsin communities with clean drinking water and an environment free of toxic chemicals. Today’s announcement will help ensure families can safely drink the water out of their faucets, build stronger infrastructure that is resilient to extreme weather, and better protect our waterways so that they continue to serve as vital economic and recreational assets.”

This funding comes in addition to nearly $143 million that was announced for Wisconsin’s CWSRF for 2022, bringing the total so far for Wisconsin under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to over $200 million additional dollars invested in the state’s CWSRF. Wisconsin allocated the first year of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law CWSRF Supplemental funding to 41 different municipalities for projects that will help to maintain and improve water quality throughout the state. Wisconsin continues to focus on providing financial assistance to disadvantaged communities and those working to reduce phosphorous levels. The EPA also announced earlier this month that Wisconsin will receive over $25.2 million from the EPA under the IIJA to address emerging contaminants and forever chemicals, like PFAS in drinking water.

In addition to supporting the IIJA, Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has also secured direct federal funding for Wisconsin communities to invest in clean drinking water through the Senate Appropriations process. In 2022, she secured over $1 million for the City of Monroe to replace lead service laterals, as well as $1.6 million for Rhinelander and over $3.7 million for the City of La Crosse to address PFAS. In 2023, she brought home over $1.6 million each for the Rib Mountain Sanitary District, the City of Wausau, the City of Eau Claire, the Town of Peshtigo and the Town of Campbell, totaling over $8.3 million for Wisconsin communities to remediate PFAS in their drinking water.