News Release: City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management Invited to Apply for National EPA Water Infrastructure Loan to Fund New Projects

NEWS RELEASE

City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management Invited to Apply for
National EPA Water Infrastructure Loan to Fund New Projects
City of Atlanta’s water infrastructure project is one of 38 projects nationwide selected to
apply for $6 billion in loan funding

Atlanta – The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) announced today that they have been invited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply for $6 billion dollars in available loans to fund major water infrastructure projects. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans will fund 38 new projects across 18 states. Together, the approximately $6 billion will help finance over $12 billion in water infrastructure investments and create nearly 200,000 jobs.

EPA’s WIFIA loans will allow communities across the country to implement projects to address national water priorities – including providing for clean and safe drinking water by reducing exposure to lead and emerging contaminants, addressing aging water infrastructure and developing water recycling and reuse projects. Specifically, eight of the selected projects are water reuse or recycling projects, 11 projects will reduce lead or emerging drinking water contaminants, and 34 will address aging infrastructure.

“On behalf of our 1.2 million customers, we would like to thank EPA for selecting the City of Atlanta to apply for funding through the WIFIA program for investments in critical infrastructure under our Water Distribution System Resiliency Program,” said DWM Commissioner Kishia L. Powell. “This will allow DWM to improve the reliability and resiliency of our drinking water system for central Atlanta, and many communities in south Fulton County, including the Cities of Chattahoochee Hills, Fairburn, Hapeville, South Fulton, and Union City as well as the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.”

EPA received 51 letters of interest from both public and private entities in response to the 2019 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management was selected to apply for a $35 million loan that, if awarded, will fund the City’s Water Distribution System Resiliency Program.

To learn more about the WIFIA Selected Projects visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia/wifia-selected-projects.

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