Advanced Wastewater Treatment Assistance Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
- Committees
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 20, 2026
Bottom line
The Advanced Wastewater Treatment Assistance Act of 2026 aims to upgrade wastewater infrastructure across the nation, with a strong focus on environmental equity and addressing emerging contaminant challenges, by providing federal grants and commissioning a scientific study.
What it actually does
This bill establishes a new grant program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide funding to States for advanced wastewater treatment projects. It authorizes $1 billion over five fiscal years (2026-2030) for this purpose, with a significant portion (not less than 49%) specifically earmarked for projects serving or benefiting qualified disadvantaged communities. Additionally, the bill mandates a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the effectiveness of advanced wastewater treatment technologies in removing emerging contaminants like PFAS.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill is crucial for modernizing aging wastewater infrastructure, protecting public health, and safeguarding water quality against increasingly complex pollutants. They emphasize the bill's commitment to environmental justice by directing nearly half of the funds to disadvantaged communities, which often bear a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution and lack resources for infrastructure upgrades. Furthermore, the mandated study on emerging contaminants demonstrates a proactive approach to future-proofing water systems.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that while the goal of improving wastewater treatment is laudable, the bill represents an expansion of federal spending and intervention into areas traditionally managed at the state and local levels. Concerns could be raised about the efficiency of a new grant program versus existing funding mechanisms, potential administrative overhead, or whether the authorized funding is sufficient to address the vast national need, potentially creating unfunded expectations for states and municipalities. Some might also question the specific set-aside percentages or the definition of 'disadvantaged communities' as potentially overly broad or narrow.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick but thorough review by any interested reader.
Section 2(a)
EPA Grant Program for Advanced Wastewater Treatment
This provision directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to create a grant program. This program will distribute funds to each State based on a formula developed by the Administrator, specifically for projects that improve advanced wastewater treatment capabilities.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this program is essential for upgrading critical infrastructure, ensuring cleaner water, and protecting public health by providing dedicated federal resources for advanced treatment technologies.
Critics contend
Critics might argue that this creates a new federal bureaucracy and could overlap with existing State Revolving Fund programs, potentially leading to inefficiencies or diverting funds from other pressing infrastructure needs.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between the need for federal support for critical infrastructure and concerns about federal overreach or duplication of existing state-level funding mechanisms.
Section 2(b) and 2(c)
State Grant Allotment and Administrative Overhead
The EPA Administrator is tasked with creating a formula to determine how much grant money each State receives. Both the EPA and the States are permitted to use a small portion, specifically not more than 1 percent, of the allocated funds for administrative costs associated with running this grant program.
Section 2(d)
Federal-State Cost Sharing and Equity Waiver
Generally, projects funded under this program require a non-Federal share of at least 50% of the cost. However, this cost-sharing requirement is waived entirely for advanced wastewater treatment projects that are designed to serve "qualified disadvantaged communities," making it easier for these communities to undertake necessary upgrades.
Section 2(e)
Dedicated Funding for Environmental Justice
This section mandates that at least 49% of the total authorized funds must be directed towards projects that either directly serve qualified disadvantaged communities, are operated by rural, small, or tribal publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that benefit such communities, or are run by public regional water providers serving multiple disadvantaged communities with a combined population over 100,000.
Section 2(f)
Funding Authorization for Grant Program
This section authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000,000 (one billion dollars) to fund the advanced wastewater treatment grant program. These funds are authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and, once appropriated, will remain available until expended, allowing for long-term project planning and execution.
Section 3
National Academies Study on Emerging Contaminants
The bill directs the EPA Administrator, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director, to arrange for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study. This study will assess how effective advanced wastewater treatment technologies are at capturing emerging contaminants, specifically mentioning nanomaterials and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The National Academies must release an interim report within three years and a final report within five years of the bill's enactment.