AMWA is seeking its members’ help in collecting examples of major upcoming water and wastewater infrastructure projects that may be candidates for funding through EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) pilot program.
EPA is currently developing WIFIA’s program guidelines. Once that task is completed (and Congress appropriates the necessary funding) the agency will be able to begin collecting WIFIA applications. In the meantime, EPA has requested the water sector’s assistance in compiling examples of major water projects that might apply for WIFIA loans in the future. This information will help EPA gauge the level of demand for WIFIA loans and could also be useful as AMWA and others encourage Congress to fund the pilot program through the appropriations process.
AMWA members that have a potential WIFIA project example to share are asked to complete a brief survey. AMWA will compile these examples and share them with EPA.
Congress approved WIFIA in 2014 as a pilot program to offer low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure projects expected to cost more than $20 million. WIFIA recipients will be selected following a competitive application process run by EPA, and projects eligible to apply include those that repair, rehabilitate or replace water infrastructure; promote desalination, aquifer recharge or water recycling; or are otherwise eligible for funding through the Drinking Water or Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs. Last year, Congress tweaked the program to ensure that communities may finance projects through a combination of WIFIA loans and tax-exempt municipal bonds.