Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that $282 million in financial assistance was allocated through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to improve drinking water for 74 municipalities.
The funding will help build water infrastructure, specifically projects to address per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and nitrates. There is also a greater focus on small and disadvantaged communities.
“Over the last six years, my administration and I have worked to ensure every Wisconsinite has access to clean, safe drinking water that is free of lead, PFAS and other contaminants that have long been known to harm our kids and families, farmers and industries, and communities across our state,” Evers said in a statement.
Evers was able to increase borrowing for the Environmental Improvement Fund by over $730 million for low-interest financing for the clean and safe drinking water loans.
The DNR and the Wisconsin Department of Administration have provided nearly $1.5 billion in financial assistance to Wisconsin municipalities through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, which began in 1998.
