WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Andy Harris, M.D., Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) today announced $20,170,000 in federal funding to improve drinking water projects throughout the state.

“Clean, safe drinking water is essential for all. This new federal funding will help state and local governments complete urgently needed projects to enhance the quality of drinking water and modernize public water infrastructure across Maryland,” said the lawmakers. “By investing in our state’s water management and delivery system, we can ensure that every Maryland community has access to this basic necessity.”

Funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (DWSRF), a federal-state partnership that helps improve the quality of drinking water nationwide. Targeted grants for Maryland will help construct two underground water storage tanks and upgrade the water purification system for the City of Baltimore. The members of Maryland’s delegation have repeatedly supported and fought for robust funding for the DWSRF program – which Congress funded at $1.13 billion in FY2020. 

Between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2019, there were 170,959 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 24,133 community water systems across the U.S. The DWSRF has been critical in helping states take on the projects needed to address these violations and improve the water supply for all Americans.

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