The Trump administration has authorized five new water infrastructure loans in Texas, Illinois, Oregon and Florida, less than a month after water trade groups complained about a slowdown.
The loans under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, totaling $711 million, will advance upgrades to wastewater and drinking water treatment systems in Fort Worth and Pflugerville, Texas; Joliet, Illinois; Ashland, Oregon; and Wilton Manors, Florida.
“EPA’s WIFIA program provides a win-win for communities and American taxpayers,” Jessica Kramer, EPA assistant administrator for water, said in a press release Thursday. “Communities use these competitive loans to upgrade water infrastructure to benefit residents and businesses, while loan payments reimburse the U.S. Treasury.”
The announcement brings the total number of WIFIA loans approved under the second Trump administration to six. Two other WIFIA loans closed in mid-January days before President Donald Trump took office. Loan applications for more than two dozen other water projects, including 15 in California, are currently listed as pending on EPA’s website.
