A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Assistance Act, a proposal that would authorize $1 billion over five years to help utilities deploy advanced treatment technologies targeting emerging contaminants such as PFAS.
The bill, led by Reps. Haley Stevens and Brian Fitzpatrick, would fund projects using technologies like granular activated carbon (GAC) and reverse osmosis (RO), with federal dollars covering up to 50% of project costs. At least 49% of funding would be directed to financially constrained communities, with cost-share requirements waived in those cases.
“Across the country, communities are facing a growing challenge: confronting contaminants like PFAS, modernizing aging wastewater infrastructure, and doing so without imposing unsustainable costs on families and ratepayers," U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) said in a statement. "This bipartisan legislation delivers the kind of smart, targeted federal partnership needed to help utilities deploy proven treatment technologies, strengthen public health protections, and keep water affordable."
The legislation also calls for a national study on advanced treatment effectiveness and caps administrative costs at 1% for EPA and state programs—an effort to maximize funds reaching utilities.
Why it matters:
Advanced treatment is quickly becoming one of the most expensive capital categories in water infrastructure. This bill signals a shift toward dedicated federal funding for contaminant-driven upgrades, rather than relying solely on SRF and WIFIA programs.
Bottom line for utilities:
Utilities planning PFAS or advanced treatment upgrades should start moving projects toward design readiness. If passed, funding will likely favor systems that can demonstrate clear scope, cost, and compliance drivers.
