The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding Puerto Rico over $52 million to support cleaner water across the Island, of which almost $30 million is funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Puerto Rico’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) provides interest-free or low-interest rate financing for wastewater and sewer infrastructure projects to municipalities. A variety of projects are eligible for financing, including construction or restoration of sewers and wastewater treatment facilities and piping, stormwater management projects and habitat restoration and protection projects.
“Across Puerto Rico, EPA is investing in communities by supporting modern, stronger and more resilient infrastructure, which also provide good local jobs,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA’s investment in Puerto Rico’s water infrastructure means less pollution and cleaner water across the island.”
Under the CWSRF program, EPA provides grants to all 50 states plus Puerto Rico for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects, including municipal wastewater facilities, nonpoint source pollution control, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, stormwater runoff mitigation, green infrastructure, estuary protection, and water reuse.
The 51 CWSRF programs function like environmental infrastructure banks by providing low or no interest loans for wastewater infrastructure projects. As money is paid back into the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other recipients for high priority, water infrastructure projects. CWSRF’s may offer a variety of assistance including loans, purchase of debt or refinance and provision of loan guarantees. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law presents the largest-ever funding opportunity for investing in water infrastructure.
