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EPA Celebrates Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects for Excellence and Innovation

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Senior Advisor, Jessica Kramer, recognised 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) programmes that have provided a foundation of federal investment in water infrastructure for decades. The SRF programmes directly support EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which emphasises 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. 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 their outstanding works.

Jessica Kramer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Senior Advisor

These exemplary projects were recognised as part of EPA’s AQUARIUS and PISCES national recognition programmes at the 2025 Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA) Summit on Water Infrastructure.

EPA’s AQUARIUS programme 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 recognised by the 2025 AQUARIUS programme, 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) programme celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programmes and assistance recipients. Twenty-two projects carried out by state or local governments, public utilities and private entities were recognised by the 2025 PISCES programme, 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 recognised projects and learn more about the AQUARIUS and PISCES programmes.

About State Revolving Fund programmes
The State Revolving Fund programmes 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 USD244 billion in financial assistance to more than 50,000 water quality infrastructure projects and 21,000 drinking water projects across the country.