The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a significant investment in the territory's water infrastructure, aligning with President Joe Biden's Investing in America agenda, according to a press release.
A total of $50 billion nationwide has been allocated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the U.S. Virgin Islands set to receive $16.5 million of that sum. The EPA notes that almost half of the total amount of funding will be made available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, in an effort to reach communities which have been historically marginalized – many of which are most in need of upgrades and improvements to their water infrastructure.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda continues to transform communities for the better with this latest infusion of funds for critical water infrastructure projects,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, who noted that the $50 billion was the largest water infrastructure investment in the nation’s history. The funding, Mr. Regan anticipates, “will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come.”
Regional administrator Lisa Garcia welcomed the USVI’s share of the funding. “This is a critical moment in time to upgrade water infrastructure in U.S. Virgin Islands and for making these vital improvements, particularly in communities that need it most," she said.
The EPA said the USVI’s allocation of funds is part of a $5.8 billion investment through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), one of EPA’s signature water investment programs. This investment will fund islands-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges, with $2.6 billion going to the Clean Water SRF for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and $3.2 billion going to the Drinking Water SRF for drinking water infrastructure.
Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has injected over $102 million into water infrastructure projects across the U.S. Virgin Islands to protect public health, preserve water resources, and create jobs, the EPA noted.
