Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) applauds the recent passing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The US House of Representatives’ vote in favor of the bill follows Senate approval in August. President Biden signed the bill on Monday, November 15.
The legislation will bring meaningful investment to our nation’s transportation, energy and water systems, including more than $55 billion dollars in water infrastructure.
“I’m so pleased Congress supported this critical investment in essential services,” said Andrew Lee, Interim General Manager of Seattle Public Utilities. “Our city’s infrastructure to deliver clean drinking water and dispose of wastewater was originally built more than 100 years ago, and our population continues to grow, adding additional stress on our aging system. The federal funding will allow us to further improve our drinking water and the health of our rivers and lakes, as well as make necessary utility upgrades to become more resilient in the face of climate change. We will seek to utilize these funds in a way that prioritizes equity and ensures all residents across the city benefit from this important investment.”
The EPA is already reaching out to water utilities and others who want to learn more about these investments.