Public Utility Remediation and Enhancement for Water Act

This bill, called the Public Utility Remediation and Enhancement for Water Act, would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set up a grant program for public wastewater treatment plants. The money could be used to plan, design, and build upgrades to prevent, limit, or treat discharges of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other “emerging contaminants.” It could also help plants meet related federal requirements. The EPA must launch the program within 180 days after the law takes effect.

Key points

• Who is affected: Owners and operators of publicly owned treatment works (public wastewater treatment plants).
• What changes:
  • Federal grants can cover at least 75% of project costs; the local share can include public or private funds, in‑kind services, and even loans from a State water pollution control revolving fund.
  • Projects generally must follow the same rules used for the State water pollution control revolving fund, with some limits on what can be waived.
• Funding: Authorizes $200 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to run this grant program.