PWX 2019

Hearing from Both Sides: Successfully Navigating EPA's Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program (Room 613-614)

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program is EPA’s newest financing opportunity for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. The WIFIA program accelerates investment in our nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low cost, supplemental loans under customized terms to creditworthy projects of national and regional significance. By September 2019, WIFIA will have closed approximately 15 loans providing support to over $5 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This special session will include an overview of the WIFIA program and its benefits and the lessons learned from the first couple of years of program implementation. WIFIA enjoys broad political support and expects to continue to get significant funding for water infrastructure investments. More and more utilities and their support services (consultants, etc.) are becoming aware of the benefits of WIFIA and are interested in applying for funding and learning more about the program. By September 2019, WIFIA expects to have over $12 billion water infrastructure project costs in its selected projects pipeline.