The Association of California Water Agencies has joined a broad coalition of water associations urging Congress to advance legislation that would reauthorize federal programs supporting water system resilience as utilities face growing threats from extreme weather and cyberattacks.
In a letter to the bill sponsors, Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and John Curtis, R-Utah, more than a dozen national and regional organizations endorsed the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, which would extend key EPA grant programs that help drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems prepare for natural disasters, changing hydrology and cybersecurity risks.
The coalition warned that utilities nationwide are confronting “escalated threats” from drought, floods, severe storms and ransomware attacks, all of which can disrupt water service and impose steep costs on local agencies. California water managers have increasingly pointed to climate volatility and aging infrastructure as dual challenges that require sustained federal investment.
At the center of the bill are three competitive grant programs designed to help communities enhance water supply reliability, harden infrastructure against natural hazards and cyber threats, and invest in innovative technologies.
The original Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program, created in 2018, focuses on small and disadvantaged communities. Two complementary programs for wastewater systems and midsize and large drinking water systems were added in 2021.
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Congress has already begun funding these efforts, with EPA distributing more than $25 million through the small-community program and recently seeking applications for $9 million to assist midsize and large drinking water systems. But without reauthorization, the programs are set to expire after fiscal year 2026, prompting water agencies to press lawmakers to act quickly.
In addition to ACWA, the letter was signed by groups representing municipal utilities, wastewater agencies and private water companies, including the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, American Water Works Association and the WateReuse Association.
Supporters argue the bill would help water and wastewater systems integrate resilience into long-term planning, reducing the risk of service disruptions and emergency repairs while creating models that can be replicated nationwide. They called the legislation an important step in preparing the nation’s critical water infrastructure for climate change and extreme events.
