EPA Celebrates Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects for Excellence and Innovation
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, April 23, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Senior Advisor Jessica Kramer recognized 38 water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation. These projects were funded by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs that have provided a foundation of federal investment in water infrastructure for decades. The SRF programs directly support EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which emphasizes the need for clean air, land, and water for every American and the importance of cooperative federalism.
“Funding for water infrastructure is vital to healthy Americans and economic opportunity. These federal dollars, which are invested by states, bring down costs and make needed water infrastructure upgrades attainable,” said EPA Senior Advisor Jessica Kramer. “As a result, more people can rely on safe drinking water and reliable wastewater management. At the same time, these investments help keep water bills affordable while construction creates local jobs. Congratulations to these award winners for the outstanding work.”
These exemplary projects were recognized as part of EPA’s AQUARIUS and PISCES national recognition programs at the at the 2025 Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA) Summit on Water Infrastructure.
EPA’s AQUARIUS program celebrates DWSRF projects that are innovative, sustainable, and protect public health. Sixteen projects carried out by state or local governments and drinking water utilities were recognized by the 2025 AQUARIUS program, including these exceptional projects:
- Excellence in Innovative Financing: Merrimack Village District, New Hampshire — Wells 2, 3, 7, 8 PFAS and Iron/Manganese Treatment
- Excellence in System Partnerships: Stanislaus Regional Water Authority, California — Regional Surface Water Supply Project
- Excellence in Community Engagement: Bloomfield Township, New Jersey — Lead Service Replacement Phases
- Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection: City of Pineville, Missouri — Water Improvement Projects
- Excellence in Creative Solutions: Ellinger Sewer and Water Supply Corporation, Texas — Water Plant Improvements Project
EPA’s George F. Ames Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programs and assistance recipients. Twenty-two projects carried out by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the 2025 PISCES program, including the following exceptional projects:
- Excellence in Innovative Financing: Chemung County Sewer District, New York — Chemung County Wastewater Treatment Plant Consolidation
- Excellence in System Partnerships (2 exceptional projects in this category):
- Town of Ardmore Water Works and Sewer Board, Alabama — Ardmore Wastewater Treatment Plant Renovations
- Springdale Water and Sewer Commission, Arkansas — Bethel Heights Wastewater Regionalization with Springdale
- Excellence in Community Engagement: Prince George’s County, Maryland — Urban Stormwater Retrofit Public Private Partnership
- Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection: Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority, Michigan — Marquette County Landfill Leachate Treatment System
- Excellence in Creative Solutions: Malcom “Jamie” Jameison, landowner — Berkeley Plantation Living Shoreline, in Virginia
See the full list of recognized projects and learn more about the AQUARIUS and PISCES programs.
Background
The State Revolving Fund programs are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. EPA’s SRFs have provided more than $244 billion in financial assistance to more than 50,000 water quality infrastructure projects and 21,000 drinking water projects across the country.