The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week announced more than $177 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for Michigan drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades in fiscal year 2024.

Wisconsin’s share of the $5.8 billion in federal funds announced for projects nationwide is more than $120 million. The money comes from the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law President Joe Biden signed in 2021.

Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has injected $629 million into water infrastructure projects in Michigan and $456 million in Wisconsin, according to the EPA.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda continues to transform communities for the better with this latest infusion of funds for critical water infrastructure projects,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a press release. “With $50 billion in total, the largest investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history, EPA will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come.”

The investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs, with $2.6 billion going to the Clean Water SRF for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and $3.2 billion going to the Drinking Water SRF for drinking water infrastructure nationwide. Almost half of the funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, Regan said.

EPA anticipates announcing allocations for billions in additional resources in fiscal year 2024 for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lead Service Line Replacement fund later this spring.

“This historic investment in water infrastructure funding will help communities make lasting improvements in the quality of Michigander’s drinking water,” said Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “With more than half of EGLE’s budget going into Michigan communities in the form of grants and loans, this added federal funding will accelerate the modernization of community water systems across our state and lead to cleaner drinking water for Michigan families.”

“In Wisconsin, where we rely upon our state’s freshwater resources for everything from maintaining livestock and crops to our outdoor recreation industries and more, PFAS and other contaminants are a serious threat to our way of life and our economy,” Gov. Tony Evers said. “With support from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’ll be able to continue building upon our work to keep our kids, our families, and our communities safe and ensure every Wisconsinite can trust the water coming out of their tap.”