Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resources for Drinking Water

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure and communities. The legislation’s more than $50 billion investment over the next five years represents the largest investment in drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, conveyance and water storage infrastructure in American history. This investment includes over $35 billion in dedicated safe drinking water funding to replace lead service lines and address PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This webpage features resources that can assist states and drinking water systems with the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Drinking Water Funds
• Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Resources for States
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Fact Sheets 
• Lead Service Line Replacement
• Building Water System Capacity Resources
• Signage Term and Conditions
• Water Security Resources 

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Drinking Water Funds

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law SRF Memorandum
• Emerging Contaminants (EC) in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant (SDC)

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Allotments

• 2024 Combined DWSRF+CWSRF Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Allotments (pdf) (76.27 KB)
• FY 2024 SRF Allotment Memorandum Attachments (pdf) (1.68 MB)  and  FY 2024 SRF Allotment Memorandum Attachments (pdf) (1.68 MB)
• 2023 Allotments for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund based on the Seventh Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (pdf) (2.61 MB)
• Memorandum: Implementation of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (pdf) (726.99 KB, March 2022)

Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Resources for States

• DWSRF Disadvantaged Community Definitions: A Reference for States (pdf) (751.46 KB, June 2022, 810-R-22-002) This handbook includes information about indicators currently used by states, as well as the methodology for how states have historically distributed their additional subsidy. It is intended to be a resource for State DWSRF programs that want to update their DAC definitions.
  • DAC Definitions Report Webinar Slides 10.11.2022 (pdf) (3.05 MB, October 2022) On October 11, 2022, the DWSRF team presented a national webinar on their DWSRF Disadvantaged Community Definitions Report and how the DWSRF can assist disadvantaged communities. Robert Boos, from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, presented on how the Pennsylvania DWSRF defines and provides assistance to disadvantaged communities. 
  • On November 29, 2022, the DWSRF team presented a national webinar on the  Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Disadvantaged Community Definitions (pdf) (4.26 MB, November 29, 2022) . Shannon Fisher, from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, discussed recent updates to the North Dakota DWSRF’s disadvantaged community definition. Leslie Coté, from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, presented on how the Pennsylvania DWSRF defines and provides assistance to disadvantaged communities. 
• Addressing Water Affordability with the DWSRF (810-F-21-007) (pdf) (840.66 KB, (810-F-21-007))
• EJ Screen: An Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool to provide a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Fact Sheets

• Developing Water Systems Partnerships with the DWSRF (816-F-21-002 (pdf) (641.93 KB, August 2021)
• Addressing Lead in Drinking Water with the DWSRF (EPA 816-F-18-005) (pdf) (1.04 MB, June 2022)
• Addressing PFAS in Drinking Water with the DWSRF (pdf) (702.03 KB, March 2019, EPA 816-F-18-007)
• Supporting Cybersecurity Measures with the DWSRF.pdf (pdf) (226.34 KB, October 2019)
• Addressing Resiliency with the DWSRF (pdf) (667.04 KB, November 2020, EPA 816-F-20-003)

Additional DWSRF fact sheets are available here.

Lead Service Line Replacement

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law LSLR Allotments Memorandum (pdf) (369.08 KB, May 2024)
•          Implementing Lead Service Line Replacement Projects Funded by the DWSRF (pdf) (389.83 KB, May 2024) This memorandum describes requirements for full lead service line replacement and details exceptions; provides recommended strategies on lead service line identification and planning and design for LSLR; best practices for risk mitigation when an LSLR is conducted; and emphasizes the importance of public notifications during projects. It also further expands the requirements for full lead service line replacement under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law LSLR.
• Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators (LSLRA) Pilot Program — EPA and four state partners—Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are working with 40 communities to address existing barriers and accelerate progress towards LSL identification and replacement. 
• Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative — Taking the best practices and lessons learned from the LSLRA, EPA is expanding LSLR technical assistance to 200 underserved and disadvantaged communities. 

• Supporting Private Lead Service Line Replacement with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (pdf) (7.94 MB, June 2023) The Lead Elimination Assistance Program (LEAP) provides solutions to private LSLR

 Building Water System Capacity Resources 

Through EPA's Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems webpage, you can access background information, recommended best practices, trainings, and tools related to capacity development, asset management, operator certification, water workforce development, water system partnerships, funding resources for small systems, and more. Some useful resources found through this page include: 

Capacity Development Resources

These capacity development tools are designed to help owners and operators of drinking water systems gain understanding on how to build technical, managerial and financial capacity.  

• Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) guide series, which are designed to help owners and operators of small drinking water systems gain understanding on how to build technical, managerial and financial capacity. 
• Asset Management: A Handbook for Small Water Systems (pdf) (2.02 MB, April 2022, 816-R-21-006)
• Taking Stock of Your Water System: A Simple Asset Inventory for Very Small Drinking Water Systems (pdf) (1.96 MB, April 2022, 816-B-21-003)
• Setting Small Drinking Water System Rates for a Sustainable Future (pdf) (1.78 MB, April 2022, 810-B-21-002)

Water System Partnerships

Leveraging water system partnerships tools can help water systems identify and address common challenges to increase public health protection.   

• Water System Partnerships Getting Ready Guide
• Water System Partnerships Funding Resources Guide
• Water System Partnerships Workshop
• Water System Partnerships Case Studies

Operator Certification and Workforce Development

Utilizing operator certification tools and developing the water sector workforce are important steps in promoting Safe Drinking Water Act compliance and adhering to minimum professional standards for the operation and maintenance of public water systems. 

• America’s Water Sector Workforce Initiative
• Water Operator Contract and Hiring Guide

Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA)

EPA's free Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) services support communities to identify water challenges, develop plans, build capacity, and develop application materials to access water infrastructure funding. The Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators Pilot Program and Get the Lead Out Initiative are only a couple of EPA’s WaterTA programs. To implement WaterTA, EPA collaborates with states, Tribes, territories, community partners, and other key stakeholders. Visit EPA's WaterTA webpage to learn more about other WaterTA programs and services and to request help for your community today.

Additional Information on Building Water System Capacity is available here.

Signage Term and Condition

The United States Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Council issued a Controller Alert titled, Enhancing Transparency Through the Use of the Building a Better America Emblem on Construction Signs (pdf). The Controller Alert informs federal agencies of the availability of the Building A Better America emblem and provides strategies for emblem use to increase the transparency of projects funded in whole or in part by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In response to this Controller Alert, EPA’s Office of Grants and Debarment developed a term and condition that EPA must include in all fiscal year FY 2022 – 2026 Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Bipartisan Infrastructure Law capitalization grant awards.

• See EPA’s memorandum announcing this term and condition: Guidelines for Implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Signage (pdf) (1.02 MB)

Water Infrastructure Resiliency Resources 

• Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) Tools to assess and address climate change risk and identify long-term adaptation options.
• Cybersecurity Best Practices For Water Sector  Provides tools and guides for water utilities to reduce cyber risks.
• Utility Preparedness and Response Webpage dedicated to support water utility for emergency preparedness and response.
• Water Supply Chain Resilience Webpage dedicated to assist water system find alternative suppliers, technical assistance, and guidance in times of supply chain shortages.  

Additional Information on Water and Wastewater Resiliency is available here.