California to improve water infrastructure drought resiliency with $7.3 million in federal funding

(UI) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding over $7.3 million in grants in California to support four drinking water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities that will be facing drought, wildfires and other impacts of climate change.

The four selected recipients of the funding in California are:

Antelope Valley-East Kern ($559,760) to install fuel trailers and a generator to protect drinking water system infrastructure from drought, earthquakes, and flooding.

City of Fresno ($3,700,214) to replace failing water pipes to protect drinking water system infrastructure from drought.

Indian Wells Valley ($2,790,000) towards water supply enhancement efforts to protect drinking water system infrastructure from drought, earthquakes, and climate change.

Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians ($331,769) to support infrastructure and computerized control improvement projects to protect drinking water system infrastructure from wildfires.

This is the first time EPA is awarding funding under the Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program, with the 16 inaugural selectees nationwide in nine states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and stablished under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018. AWIA improves drinking water and water quality, deepens infrastructure investments, enhances public health and quality of life, increases jobs, and bolsters the economy.

“Across California, the impact of climate change is often felt as water-related stress, with serious burdens placed on communities’ drinking water infrastructure,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman.

“This new grant program will strengthen our state’s water infrastructure and advance the goal of safe, available drinking water for all.”

 

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