Friday, October 18, 2019
Recently, Gov. Eric Holcomb joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler at the Statehouse to announce a $436 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan.
Established in 2014, the WIFIA program aims to accelerate investment in our nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.
Using the funds from the EPA's WIFIA loan, the Indiana Finance Authority will be able to provide 28 loans to 20 communities across Indiana to fund drinking and wastewater projects that protect the public health of Hoosiers. Project construction and operation are also expected to create more than 3,000 jobs.
Drinking water projects will include efforts to improve water treatment plants, storage tanks, distribution system components, wells and pump stations as well as to construct resiliency features and implement water conservation measures.
Wastewater projects will include efforts to increase capacity of wastewater treatment plants, tunnels to capture combined sewer overflows and collection systems.
For more information on the WIFIA program click here.
Additionally, during the 2019 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly passed key legislation to ensure Hoosiers continue to have access to clean, safe and affordable water.
Senate Enrolled Act 4 serves as Indiana’s next step toward studying and managing Indiana’s water resources. This legislation encourages a regional water planning approach that works with local utilities to examine water loss caused by poor infrastructure.
Another passed bill, House Enrolled Act 1406, outlines how state funding can be utilized to assist local water infrastructure programs.
Creating a long-term water system plan for our state is essential to the health and well-being of Hoosiers, and our caucus will continue to work to find solutions that preserve Indiana’s water resources.
