WASHINGTON (April 12, 2023) —Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 41 clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation. These projects were funded in part by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. EPA’s AQUARIUS and PISCES national recognition programs highlight exemplary water infrastructure projects. They showcase improvements in water quality and public health protection as a result of strong partnership at the federal, state, and local level. With historic funding from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more projects like these will be possible in the future.

“I am thrilled to recognize innovative infrastructure projects that are delivering cleaner, safer water for communities while providing insights that can be replicated across the country,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “I look forward to seeing more projects like these as we continue to invest $50 billion through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

EPA’s AQUARIUS program celebrates DWSRF projects that are innovative, sustainable, and protect public health. Twenty-one projects by state or local governments and drinking water utilities were recognized by the 2022 AQUARIUS program, including the following exceptional projects:

• Excellence in Innovative Financing: Sabine Water District No. 1, Louisiana—Ajax-Beulah Water System Consolidation Project
• Excellence in System Partnerships: Aqua Ohio, Inc., Ohio—New Franklin Water Line Extension
• Excellence in Community Engagement: Artesian Water Company, Delaware—Frankford Water System Purchase and Delaware Avenue Extension Project
• Excellence in Public Health Protection: Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Pennsylvania—Lead Service Line Replacement Project
• Excellence in Creative Solutions: City of Richmond, Virginia—Phase II Lead Service Line Replacement Project

EPA’s George F. Ames Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovative  CWSRF programs implemented by assistance recipients. Twenty projects by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the 2022 PISCES program, including the following exceptional projects:

• Excellence in Innovative Financing: Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Virginia—Hampton Roads Sanitation District Programmatic Loan
• Excellence in System Partnerships: Villages of Dupont and Cloverdale, Ohio—STEP Collection System Dupont-Cloverdale Wastewater Plant
• Excellence in Community Engagement: Kearny Town, New Jersey—Kearny Town Redevelopment of Recreational Complex
• Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection: McDowell County Public Service District, West Virginia—Coalwood Sewer Project - Phase 1
• Excellence in Problem Solving: City of Hastings, Nebraska—Hastings Aquifer Storage and Restoration Project

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

Background

The SRFs are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. EPA’s SRFs have provided more than $216 billion in financial assistance to over 46,000 water quality infrastructure projects and over 18,000 drinking water projects across the country. With the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, over $43 billion in funding will be provided to the SRFs over 5 years for communities’ water infrastructure improvement projects. This historic funding will help address the most pressing water challenges of today, especially in disadvantaged communities, and make more water infrastructure projects possible.