Welcome
The SRF State Advocates Forum is a diverse, nationwide community of practice focused on increasing equity in implementation of SRF dollars. The Forum creates opportunities for advocates to learn, share lessons, and synergize across geographies and levels of government to pursue more equitable and climate-resilient infrastructure investments. Participants in the Forum include experts, state and national advocates, local leaders and residents motivated to address water infrastructure challenges – such as drinking water safety, affordability, lead service line replacement, and climate resilience – to advance procedural, distributive and restorative justice.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the State Revolving Funds (SRFs)
On November 15, 2021, lawmakers enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). BIL provides more than $50 billion in supplemental funding – that is, in addition to annual base funding – to the US EPA for water infrastructure investments through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
Breakdown of BIL Funding:
- $23.4 billion in general program funding for DWSRF and CWSRF ($11.7 billion each), for which allocation must abide by certain provisions including disbursing about half as grants or loan forgiveness. States are encouraged to revise program administration to ensure that funds reach Disadvantaged Communities and those that meet certain affordability criteria. Moreover, states can use funding to offer technical assistance and support climate resilience projects.
- $15.0 billion for Lead Service Line Replacements.
- $5.0 for the Small and Disadvantage Community Grant program within DWSRF.
- $5.0 billion to address emerging contaminants including PFAS.
BIL provides additional financing to strengthen and rebuild America’s water infrastructure by replacing pipes, upgrading water facilities, and ensuring our water systems are resilient for the future.
BIL funding increases each year over the five year period (2022-2026).
Congress appropriates base funding to the SRFs on an annual basis. Funding levels have stayed relatively flat over the last several years. BIL funding, also referred to as supplemental funding, has been allocated through 2026 and is provided on top of the annual appropriations process.
