Dive Brief:
- A bipartisan funding bill that would improve ports and harbors, inland waterways, flood and storm protection and other water infrastructure was unanimously approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday.
- The Water Resources Development Act of 2026 authorizes $14 billion over four years for the State Clean Water Revolving Fund and $16.5 billion over five years for the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund, along with 133 new feasibility studies for proposed local water infrastructure projects.
-
Legislation “is critical to helping communities build, maintain and improve critical infrastructurewhile growing our national and local economies,” the National League of Cities said in a June 30 letter to committee members.
Diving knowledge:
Through the WRDAs, Congress authorizes US Army Corps of Engineers water resources infrastructure projects that originate at the local level. Congress has enacted a bipartisan WRDA every two years since 2014.
The 2026 bill includes policy changes to speed up water infrastructure projects, such as giving local stakeholders more voice in feasibility studies and helping them access Army Corps resources to start projects. He also directs the Corps a establish offices with experience in inland navigation, alternative supply, water supply and technical assistance. This will “improve communication and partnership between the Corps and non-federal sponsors,” according to the National Association of Counties.
American Water Works Association CEO David LaFrance said the bill is “a positive step toward strengthening the federal partnership needed to maintain safe and reliable water service.”
AWWA’s 2026 State of the water industry The survey found that water professionals are concerned about their ability to keep up with aging infrastructure and climate change. Communities will have to invest $2.1 trillion to $2.4 trillion over the next 25 years to replace aging drinking water infrastructure, comply with regulations, address cybersecurity threats and strengthen resilience, it concluded in a separate report.
In addition to advocating for this bill, NLC and other local governments and water stakeholders are urging Congress to maintain additional five-year water infrastructure funding for the Law of Investment in Infrastructures and Employment which will expire Sept. 30 and reauthorize grant and technical assistance programs to address PFAS, lead pipes and other water infrastructure projects in fiscal year 2027.
“With the expiration of infrastructure law funding and the President’s FY27 proposal cuts to water infrastructure programscities and states face a potential funding cliff when it comes to meeting local drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs,” wrote Carolyn Berndt, NLC’s legislative director of sustainability, in a May 15 blog post.
