EPA inaugurates water infrastructure and resiliency finance centre in US

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has inaugurated a water infrastructure and resiliency finance centre.

The new launch will support the US communities for improvement of their wastewater, drinking water and stormwater systems.

The centre will take recourse to innovative financing and try to build national resilience to cope with climate change.

Developed as a part of the White House Build America Investment Initiative, the facility is likely to explore additional financing options for climate-resilient water infrastructure projects that can boost water efficiency, energy efficiency, water reuse and green infrastructure.

The facility will offer assistance to the communities for setting up sustainable sources of funding, especially for stormwater activities.

The finance centre will collaborate with US Department of Agriculture for developing technical, managerial and financial capacities of the existing small community water systems.

EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said: "Infrastructure is central to the President’s plan to build on the progress the US economy is making by creating jobs and expanding opportunity for all Americans.

"By modernising the nation’s infrastructure we can protect our drinking water sources and enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change by avoiding financial and water supply losses from leaking pipes and reducing pollution from sewer overflows and wastewater discharges."

Thorough maintenance and upgrade of water infrastructure in the US is likely to involve an investment of more than $600bn in the next 20 years, EPA stated.

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Image: Construction workers check on progress inside a tunnel on a water infrastructure project in Washington, D.C. Photo: Courtesy of US EPA/Flickr.

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