Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and John Curtis (R-Utah), both members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act. This bill would reauthorize essential water infrastructure resilience programs to help water and wastewater utilities receive funding they desperately need.

Environmental Protection Agency data shows that over $1.2 trillion will be needed to upgrade our country’s aging water infrastructure and help it withstand climate disasters and cyber threats. These dangers could potentially disrupt water services, compromise critical data, and risk public safety.

“Americans count on their government to ensure they have access to clean water,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “We must properly invest in the resiliency of the network that makes it happen. I am proud to stand with Senator Curtis to introduce our bipartisan Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act.”

“Reliable water infrastructure is fundamental to public health, economic growth, and national security,” said Senator Curtis. “Across the country, communities are facing aging systems, extreme weather, and growing cyber security threats that put clean water at risk. Our bipartisan legislation takes a practical approach to strengthening American infrastructure and will keep our water systems resilient and dependable for years to come.”

The Water Infrastructure and Sustainability Act reauthorizes the following three water infrastructure resilience programs for five years (FY27-FY31) at current authorization levels:

• The Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience Program is currently authorized for $50 million per year and supports water utilities that serve 10,000 or more people through projects that reduce cybersecurity threats and increase resilience to natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and more.
• The Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program is currently authorized for $25 million per year and supports water utilities that serve 10,000 or fewer people through projects that improve their resilience to natural hazards by utilizing strategies like infrastructure upgrades, water conservation, energy efficiency improvements, and more.  
• The Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program is currently authorized for $25 million per year and supports public wastewater utilities of all sizes through projects that improve infrastructure resiliency and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

“Wilmington’s Department of Public Works strongly supports the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act,” said Kelly Williams, Commissioner of the Wilmington Department of Public Works. “This legislation is critical to helping utilities like ours prepare for and adapt to the growing challenges posed by extreme weather, natural disasters, and cybersecurity threats. By reauthorizing the EPA’s Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program, Congress is investing in the reliability and safety of drinking water systems that millions of Americans depend on every day. These resources will allow us to strengthen our infrastructure, protect public health, and ensure that our community remains resilient for generations to come.”

“The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act ensures that our nation’s drinking water and wastewater utilities have the resources to address mounting floods, droughts, and cyber security risks,” Tom Dobbins, CEO, The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). “The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies applauds Senators Blunt Rochester and Curtis for taking steps to bolster public health by safeguarding our water infrastructure from future threats and reducing the vulnerability of water service to disruptions.”

“The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act is a forward-looking investment in our communities and river health,” said Tom Kiernan, President of the American Rivers Action Fund. “By helping local governments modernize aging water systems, this bipartisan bill delivers relief to families and strengthens our economy. We applaud Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and John Curtis for their leadership in taking steps to ensure that our water infrastructure is affordable, resilient, and supports healthy rivers for generations to come.” 

“NMSA believes that investments to strengthen the resiliency of Publicly Owned Treatment Works, including stormwater infrastructure, are essential to ensuring the continued delivery of critical Clean Water services in the face of the anticipated increase in frequency and scale of natural hazards,” said Seth Brown, Ph.D., PE, Executive Director of the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA). “Thank you Senators Blunt Rochester and Curtis for introducing this important legislation to support these efforts.”

“NACWA applauds Senators Blunt Rochester and Curtis for introducing the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act of 2025.” said Adam Kranz, CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). “Reauthorizing the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program will help ensure continued federal support for projects that help utilities withstand natural disasters and cyber threats.”

“AWWA appreciates Senators Blunt Rochester and Curtis for championing resiliency improvements across the water sector,” said Tracy Mehan, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the American Water Works Association (AWWA). “The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act will ensure water utilities continue to have access to necessary funding to meet the challenges posed by natural disasters and cybersecurity threats.”

The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act is endorsed by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the American Rivers Fund, the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and the American Water Works Association.

A one pager on the bill is available here. Full text is available here.

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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.