The Biden-Harris administration has announced significant funding aimed at improving water infrastructure in Arkansas, ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for schools and homes.
This initiative follows the administration’s finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements LCRI, which mandates the identification and replacement of lead pipes nationwide within the next decade, alongside stricter testing standards and lower thresholds for lead levels that trigger community action.
As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $29.8 million in funding is now available for Arkansas’ drinking water infrastructure through state revolving funds.
Nearly half of this sum is reserved for disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not need to be repaid.
Additionally, $35 million in competitive grant funding has been allocated nationally to further reduce lead contamination in drinking water.
These efforts aim to address both public health concerns and the aging infrastructure contributing to lead exposure.