[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6255112,"mediaKeyId","3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0","parentId",3168124,"title","Senate EPW opens reauthorization work on IIJA water programs; chair and ranking member set priorities","audioSeconds",667,"startMs",1060000,"endMs",1727000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0&start=1060&end=1727","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0/thumbnail_1060000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6255112/Senate-EPW-opens-reauthorization-work-on-IIJA-water-programs-chair-and-ranking-member-set-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255112-1aeabcf2c404e87675e96cdd7fd26ea1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115895&Signature=C4pX-82q~NCSigcxkTkfy8bARsEMhNh1etuAQJQJDzhfIHW0PiTt2V-fOtN5Xx-SZfPm6nBo-D0SFzzVoIvmfx9DwmGCe-RqqaknVwntHK6eodW1hmJ43XsLfz~C4MkBrV-WfIPIXtg~FJBCnpDtrF8JgmPtvxNdvz4wYbzhtn~45IPDbZ9uuBqZFwPeiMxgZy1MiIfzDISshgnDZJS7iSJT-MywSJhPz4cYI20WygOup8f5mCyPCy6IUq~Y81MNmU66NLZnSWXfdXWf3MlyineXVen2JSnajfvueAWi2cHKJFEUC1XIgErQ3GWU5~pYyDlyCUp5gBD1nWMoK~20GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee opened a hearing to begin bipartisan work reauthorizing the water infrastructure programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with Chair Capito and ranking members outlining priorities for the next authorization.

Chair Capito said the session would “examine the policies to strengthen our nation's water infrastructure,” described IIJA as “the largest federal investment in water infrastructure in our nation's history,” and said the committee must act now because the IIJA funding “expires next year.” She said reauthorization should simplify funding delivery for small and underserved communities, reinforce state leadership in implementation, and focus federal efforts on measurable outcomes.

\"This law is moving our nation's water infrastructure systems forward,\" Capito said, noting IIJA provided roughly $50 billion for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater programs. She cautioned that some federal implementation approaches have \"departed from the statute's original direction\" and that overly prescriptive agency rules risk leaving behind the communities the programs were designed to help.

Ranking Member Shipp said reliable access to safe drinking water is a right and highlighted lead service lines and PFAS contamination as urgent threats. Shipp cited EPA estimates of widescale needs and warned that aging systems also pose cybersecurity risks. \"A successful large scale attack could have tragic and catastrophic results,\" he said, urging sustained federal investment and a fully staffed EPA to implement science-based standards.

Committee members who spoke in the hearing reiterated related concerns. Senator Padilla emphasized the importance of technical assistance and affordability programs for low-income households; other senators pressed on program flexibility, match requirements, and the need to preserve state revolving funds as predictable financing tools.

Why it matters: IIJA funding spurred thousands of projects, but committee leaders say the federal government and states must address barriers small and underserved communities face in accessing funds, ensure implementation follows congressional intent, and sustain investments beyond the IIJA baseline to meet long-term needs.

The hearing proceeded to witness testimony and a series of member questions on specific program design issues, SRF implementation, lead service line replacement, PFAS treatment, workforce development and small-community technical assistance. Senators announced a formal working timeline for written questions and responses to be submitted for the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Building on the IIJA’s Successes: Identifying Opportunities to Strengthen Water Infrastructure Programs","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee opened a hearing to begin bipartisan work reauthorizing the water infrastructure programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with Chair Capito and ranking members outlining priorities for the next authorization.","taxTitle","Environment and Public Works: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1992,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6255103,"Senate hearing: witnesses outline costs and trade-offs of PFAS treatment and lead service line removal",324,3513000,3837000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0&start=3513&end=3837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0/thumbnail_3513000.jpg","/articles/6255103/Senate-hearing-witnesses-outline-costs-and-trade-offs-of-PFAS-treatment-and-lead-service-line-removal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255103-24b2b287bb5dacb5fb54d9a0f93ce784/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115895&Signature=YIUej3I2Xi~PbS-yjkMuEEgKQFFtLDx~JIO~gOhb6pT4dFjlQV~G6XcNEALpVWrnXZqOx5eDl3QC2aSVZvOGrcyCifhsmQQOT~fXJc9G4ZGAqQsxBAhh2Z8rkzyQ0Hl9HKgSarhrjcKBhcOyqnFGUeu~SzTE3FEagDWPwKWopLMpL-nqcrAcNe1tTWy35RysmMXLBJADKouB8cJv3JrD~nnn6nh8ZbxoUJ3adFk5LzTc8I2MSRzEJJurn37t4cwr6TxfN3F5U9ret7FR9Z-VUF97dKRm5qP7KC4vSv5~E-VQpZaGKOmOHkxzoz3gmGUzY7oZNKGk2P38VU8lOIZydg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and witnesses at the EPW hearing discussed how to prioritize and pay for removal of PFAS and lead from drinking water, the technical limits and costs of treatment, and regulatory and liability concerns.

Eric Oswald, director of the Michigan drinking water program and president of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), said states have been testing for PFAS for years and urged a balanced approach to addressing detections. He described options in sequence: change source water, pursue regional hookups where feasible, and then install treatment. On technology he said, \"We are there. I think we can remove all the PFAS... You've got reverse osmosis, you've got activated carbon.\" He added that treatment generates a waste stream that raises disposal questions and cost: \"It's expensive and you've got to deal with the waste.\" Oswald estimated per‑service line lead replacement costs have risen from about $5,000 to roughly $8,000–$10,000.

Tom Gillett said small Nebraska communities sometimes find it more economical to connect to another system than to install PFAS treatment locally, noting economy-of-scale limits for very small systems. Kyle Dreyfus Wells said his agency had used IIJA emerging-contaminant funds for laboratory equipment and to study landfill leachate as a PFAS source.

Witnesses also raised policy matters: Gillett said rural water associations support the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act (transcript: \"water systems PFAS liability protection act\") to shield systems from cleanup costs caused by industrial polluters, while Oswald urged EPA and states to provide streamlined guidance and funding flexibility so states can sequence investments without being forced into isolated, expensive projects. Senators pressed on operational trade-offs, waste disposal pathways and coordination between public and private sides of service lines: witnesses noted private-side ownership can prevent full replacements when homeowners with privately owned sections refuse access or cannot afford replacements.

Why it matters: PFAS treatment and lead-service-line removal are capital-intensive, have ongoing operational and disposal costs, and raise questions about who pays — ratepayers, polluters, state/federal grants, or a hybrid approach. Witnesses urged a mix of source controls, regional solutions and targeted federal funding to avoid placing disproportionate burdens on small communities.","Witnesses and senators discussed PFAS treatment options, waste-handling challenges, and the high cost of lead service line replacement. State and utility representatives urged balanced, phased approaches, source-based PFAS controls and protections for small systems.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6255108,"Witnesses tell Senate EPW state revolving funds, technical assistance and flexible subsidy rules are key to getting projects built",368,1778000,2146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0&start=1778&end=2146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3168124-704c3989787b7f22af01cd7fde28f2a0/thumbnail_1778000.jpg","/articles/6255108/Witnesses-tell-Senate-EPW-state-revolving-funds-technical-assistance-and-flexible-subsidy-rules-are-key-to-getting-projects-built","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255108-9c5f057f1c0e4869678b43c8e7a9a5ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115895&Signature=f2q2Xa5eFOFOUuJjI9KVMQErySCw5z1zYKrRA9t6L5arj8U8Ufr2kR6kjZX~kZgfwAIuwL2n8-r8k8V0M-btv6TJmKAttunHUDqlTWnl63aq13DWlsL3tVLPrzJeaDNUL4r6Y2uhuqGPVuOurNUGxsS8MrkNMJUX3XHEHrlqToyH7XlE2PgAfgdaLZvYgrMuuugoa2HNuiWAFTVm1Wv72X6Vp9A6WEBBRpCS0p3sUAVz9JnNltast-zAmWMUMYvxe~3QcAKtLGM4xzmTaljJYUueZNxj4TPehSeXYSUfTT~R969kei~B2HJDH3tFT0oYtkKc2fH05~eLdP~gHY3jmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Witnesses from utilities and rural-water associations told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that state revolving funds (SRFs), IIJA principal forgiveness and state-level technical assistance have enabled projects that would otherwise be unaffordable, but obstacles remain for smaller systems.

Kyle Dreyfus Wells, chief executive officer of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and treasurer of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), described the Clean Water SRF as \"an essential financing tool\" for large and small projects. He said his district operates with a $191,000,000 annual operating budget and a $276,000,000 capital program, and cited a $220,000,000 shoreline storage tunnel financed through the SRF at 1.57% interest for 40 years with deferred principal. Dreyfus Wells said those terms equated to roughly $50,000,000 in savings over alternatives for that single project and praised program flexibilities — below-market interest, deferred principal, extended terms and reduced bond costs — for stabilizing long-term rates.

Tom Gillett, president of the Nebraska Rural Water Association, and city administrator/utility superintendent in West Point, Nebraska, described how SRF loans and principal forgiveness made a $2,760,000 filter and treatment upgrade feasible after iron and manganese issues affected hospitals, schools and restaurants. Gillett said the project used a 1.5% SRF loan, an administrative fee and $553,000 in principal forgiveness.

Both witnesses and state drinking water administrators said smaller communities struggle with matching requirements and limited staffing to prepare and manage complex applications. Dreyfus Wells and others urged more targeted technical assistance and longer funding windows. Eric Oswald, president of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), recommended greater flexibility in meeting subsidy requirements and noted that a prescriptive 49% principal-forgiveness requirement for lead-service-line work has created administrative burdens and can prevent coordinated 'dig once' projects.

Examples cited on the record:

- Maple Heights, Ohio: more than $875,000 in principal forgiveness since 2023 to address basement flooding and replace 56,000 linear feet of sewers.
- Shoreline storage tunnel (Northeast Ohio): $220 million project financed via SRF tools; cited as saving about $50 million compared with typical bond financing assumptions.
- West Point, Nebraska: $2.76 million drinking water upgrade including $553,000 in principal forgiveness.

Lawmakers asked about match waivers, streamlined application processes, and workforce training. Witnesses urged continued funding, streamlined federal guidance, and stronger state–federal coordination to ensure SRFs remain reliable low-cost financing that local utilities can layer with grants and local funds.","Utility and rural-water witnesses credited Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, principal forgiveness and technical assistance for enabling projects in small and underserved communities, and described barriers including match requirements, staffing and planning capacity.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate EPW opens reauthorization work on IIJA water programs; chair and ranking member set priorities

Senate hearing: witnesses outline costs and trade-offs of PFAS treatment and lead service line removal

Witnesses tell Senate EPW state revolving funds, technical assistance and flexible subsidy rules are key to getting projects built