NACo joins letters calling on Congress to support water infrastructure funding and reauthorization
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Charlotte Mitchell Duyshart
Andrew Nober
Samuel Geurtsen-Shoemate
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Key Takeaways
In April, NACo, alongside coalition partners representing local governments and water groups, sent two letters to Congress highlighting the importance of sustained federal investment in water infrastructure for counties and communities nationwide.
NACo’s water priorities
In an April 17 letter, NACo and coalition partners urged lawmakers to reauthorize core water programs at levels authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58), adjusted for inflation, including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). These programs help counties upgrade aging systems, meet federal requirements and ensure safe, reliable water services.
The coalition also emphasized the importance of maintaining funding for grant and technical assistance programs that support system resilience, affordability and public health, particularly for small and disadvantaged communities. Several authorized programs remain unfunded, limiting communities’ ability to address emerging challenges and modernize infrastructure.
In a second letter sent April 16, NACo, the National League of Cities (NLC) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) called on Congress to fully fund water infrastructure programs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations process, pointing to a significant and growing funding gap for drinking water and wastewater systems nationwide. Federal investment plays a key role in helping counties avoid passing major costs onto taxpayers or delaying critical maintenance and upgrades.
Next steps
Counties own and operate drinking, waste and stormwater systems nationwide and work to uphold water quality standards for residents. Strengthening county water infrastructure benefits residents and supports communities.
As Congress begins work on FY 2027 appropriations and considers infrastructure reauthorization, NACo will continue advocating for strong federal investment in water systems that support counties and their residents.
NACo's FY 2027 Appropriations Priorities
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