Virginia announces $411.5 million for water infrastructure
Yesterday, Virginia officials announced that the state plans to allocate $411.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to reduce water pollution and increase access to clean water across the region. The proposal will make substantial investments stormwater infrastructure and improve wastewater and drinking water management.
The proposal includes $186.5 million for nutrient removal and wastewater treatment, $125 million for combined sewer overflow projects in Richmond, Alexandria, and Lynchburg, and $100 million to assist water systems in small and disadvantaged communities.
The announce comes after more than $300 million in ARP funding sent to state towns in June and $2.3 billion made available to Virginia’s 133 counties and cities directly from the federal government to meet local response and recovery needs, which include improving access to clean drinking water and to supporting vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
The announcement is part of “Investment Week,” during which the Governor and legislative leaders will highlight proposals for distributing the $4.3 billion in ARP funding available to the state.
“In addition to modernizing water and sewer infrastructure across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Ralph Northam, “these investments will go a long way towards restoring the health of our waterways and reducing pollution in our communities.”
“Protecting the environment, and particularly providing for sanitary disposal of wastewater, is critical to public health and the economy,” said Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Matthew J. Strickler. “These investments will put us even closer to restoring the Chesapeake Bay, and will clean up streams and improve septic and sewer systems across the Commonwealth.”
Clean water supports overall public health by preventing water-related ailments, increasing sanitation, and enabling food production. Affordable and reliable access to clean water is also important for driving economic activity across a broad range of industries, from tourism and outdoor recreation to agriculture and manufacturing.
