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Today Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) reintroduced the Clean Water Affordability Act. The bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, updating the EPA’s clean water affordability policy to assist municipalities’ that cannot meet unfunded mandates to improve their wastewater infrastructure projects.

If approved, municipalities will have an extended loan repayment period from the current limit of 20 years to 30 years, as well as allow extra time for their implementation schedules of up to 30 years for projects.  In addition, it will allow states to use up to 30 percent of total capitalization grants received by the state as grant funds. These provisions will allow more flexibility for municipalities in addressing their water infrastructure projects.

After introduction of the bill Congressman Latta shared the following remarks:

“Much of our district’s rural communities and municipalities are burdened with EPA mandates for water infrastructure projects with no financial assistance, therefore forcing communities to foot the bill for these mandated projects.  If the bill is passed, cash-strapped municipalities will receive much needed relief by receiving additional flexibility to upgrade their wastewater infrastructure systems.”