02.20.2024
Senator Baldwin Brings Home Nearly $120 Million for Clean Drinking Water in Wisconsin
Funding through Baldwin-backed Infrastructure Law will help communities rebuild water infrastructure, address PFAS, replace lead pipes
WISCONSIN – Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that she helped bring home $119.6 million for clean drinking water to help local communities replace lead service lines, address toxic PFAS chemicals, rebuild wastewater infrastructure, and protect the Great Lakes. The funding is from the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
Senator Baldwin secured key provisions of her Made in America Act in the infrastructure law, ensuring that American iron and steel are used in the construction of the water infrastructure under the Water State Revolving Funds.
“Whether it is the Mighty Mississippi, our Fresh Coasts, thousands of inland lakes, or abundant drinking water sources, water is central to the Wisconsin way of life. As we see an influx in toxic chemicals, lead contamination, and pollution, it is more important than ever that we work to keep our waters clean and safe – our economy, health, and lifestyle depend on it,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to deliver this funding to dig up lead pipes and provide safe drinking water, help communities address PFAS and get rid of toxic chemicals, and protect our freshwater resources for generations to come. And, to do it all, we are using American-made products and American workers.”
"In Wisconsin, where we rely upon our state's freshwater resources for everything from maintaining livestock and crops to our outdoor recreation industries and more, PFAS and other contaminants are a serious threat to our way of life and our economy," said Governor Evers. "With support from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’ll be able to continue building upon our work to keep our kids, our families, and our communities safe and ensure every Wisconsinite can trust the water coming out of their tap."
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $50 billion to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – the largest such investment in drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, conveyance, and water storage infrastructure in American history, including dedicated funding to replace lead service lines and address PFAS. Last year, funding from this program was allocated to over 100 Wisconsin municipalities.
This year’s allocation for Wisconsin is in addition to a total of $334 million the state received in 2022 and 2023 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last year, Senator Baldwin announced Wisconsin is receiving over $25.2 million from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants and forever chemicals, like PFAS. With Senator Baldwin’s support, Wisconsin was also selected as one of four states designated for a program that provides hands-on support to guide communities through the process of lead service line removals from start to finish.
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