Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $890,000 in regular funding through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help Wisconsin communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs.
States may now apply for grant assistance to fund projects that will help municipalities strengthen their stormwater collection systems against increasingly intense rain events made worse by the climate crisis and prevent contaminants from polluting waterways. The Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program will also ensure small and financially distressed communities receive grant assistance at no cost.
Stormwater management is a complex environmental challenge for communities across the country. The cost to construct, operate, and maintain stormwater infrastructure can be significant, which can strain ratepayers, especially those in small and financially distressed communities. This investment follows changes made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to prioritize projects for small and/or financially distressed communities and prevent cost share requirements from being passed on to these communities.
This funding for Wisconsin is part of the $50 million in grants that EPA made available nationally. Additional information about the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program is available online.
