Calls to expand access to federal wastewater infrastructure funding are growing in the United States.
Utilities are under increasing pressure to upgrade ageing systems and improve resilience.
Trust in Water is urging Congress to widen eligibility for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to include more regulated private wastewater providers.
The organisation argues that lower-cost financing could help accelerate infrastructure upgrades while reducing costs for customers.
The campaign comes during National Preparedness Month.
Trust in Water says infrastructure resilience should form a central part of preparedness for flooding, storms and other extreme events.
Wastewater infrastructure funding under scrutiny
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund is one of the United States’ principal financing mechanisms for water quality infrastructure.
The programme provides below-market financing for eligible wastewater, stormwater, water reuse and other water quality projects.
Eligibility varies depending on the type of project and individual state programme.
Federal law currently limits financing for the construction of publicly owned treatment works to specified public entities.
Trust in Water argues this creates a financing disparity for regulated private wastewater utilities responsible for comparable infrastructure and public health obligations.
Lower borrowing costs could support resilience projects
Wastewater systems across the US require substantial investment in treatment facilities, pumping stations and collection networks.
Resilience measures are also becoming increasingly important as utilities prepare for extreme weather and ageing infrastructure.
For distressed systems, the cost of borrowing can significantly affect the overall price of an infrastructure programme.
Trust in Water says broader access to low-interest CWSRF financing could allow regulated utilities to deliver upgrades sooner.
The organisation also argues that lower borrowing costs could reduce the financial impact on customers.
Jerry Keenan, President of the NJ Alliance for Action and a Trust in Water Leadership Council member, said infrastructure investment should take place before emergency conditions develop.
“Preparedness starts with infrastructure. We need to invest in our water and wastewater systems before there is an emergency, not after one.”
Keenan said financing eligibility should focus on the public benefit delivered by a project rather than solely on ownership structure.
Clean Water SRF Parity Act proposes wider eligibility
The debate is centred on the Clean Water SRF Parity Act of 2025, H.R. 3862.
The bipartisan bill was introduced by Representative Mike Bost of Illinois and Representative John Garamendi of California.
It proposes amending the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to expand eligibility for State Revolving Fund assistance.
The change would apply to certain privately owned wastewater treatment works.
The bill would not require states to fund private operators.
It would also not reserve a specific share of financing for private providers.
Individual states would retain responsibility for determining which eligible projects receive support.
Funding access linked to customer affordability
Trust in Water argues that lower financing costs would ultimately benefit customers of regulated wastewater utilities.
Private regulated utilities operate under state oversight.
Infrastructure expenditure and customer rates are therefore subject to regulatory review.
The organisation says access to lower-cost capital could reduce the financing component of long-term infrastructure investment.
The legislation also includes provisions intended to ensure financing benefits are passed through to customers.
State Revolving Funds remain central to US water investment
The CWSRF has provided low-cost financing for water quality projects since the late 1980s.
It remains one of the key mechanisms used by states to support wastewater and water quality investment.
H2O Global News has previously reported on concerns surrounding US water infrastructure funding and the long-term capacity of State Revolving Funds.
H2O Global News has also covered public concern around water infrastructure reliability and investment across the United States.
Preparedness depends on infrastructure investment
Extreme weather can expose weaknesses in ageing wastewater networks.
Heavy rainfall and flooding can increase hydraulic pressure on collection systems and treatment infrastructure.
This can increase the risk of failures and untreated wastewater releases.
Trust in Water argues that financing policy therefore has a direct relationship with community resilience.
Its position is that broader access to affordable infrastructure finance could help accelerate upgrades before systems reach crisis point.
Whether Congress adopts that approach will depend on the progress of H.R. 3862.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund is a federal-state financing programme that provides low-cost funding for eligible wastewater, stormwater, water reuse and other water quality infrastructure projects.
The Clean Water SRF Parity Act of 2025, H.R. 3862, proposes expanding State Revolving Fund eligibility to certain privately owned wastewater treatment works.
Eligibility depends on the project type and state programme. Private entities can qualify for some CWSRF project categories, while financing for publicly owned treatment works is subject to statutory public ownership requirements.
Affordable finance can help utilities upgrade treatment plants, pumping stations and collection systems before ageing infrastructure contributes to failures, pollution incidents or disruption during extreme weather.
