The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new initiative designed to strengthen federal support for drinking water and wastewater utilities nationwide, aiming to improve compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act while helping communities modernize aging water infrastructure.

Announced March 4, the initiative, Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA), refocuses federal resources on technical support and practical guidance for water systems, particularly those facing operational, financial or regulatory challenges.

EPA officials say the program is intended to help utilities deliver reliable drinking water services while maximizing the impact of federal infrastructure funding now flowing to states and municipalities.

“Ensuring that drinking water is safe and wastewater is properly managed is vital to protecting public health,” the agency said in a memorandum outlining the effort. The initiative emphasizes proven best-practice approaches to technical assistance that address local needs while strengthening partnerships with states and Tribal governments.

Supporting utilities and maximizing infrastructure investment

Under the RealWaterTA framework, EPA will coordinate with federal, state and local partners to help utilities identify infrastructure needs, secure funding and improve system performance. The program will provide expanded technical assistance focused on engineering, operational management, workforce development and financial planning.

The initiative also places particular emphasis on small and rural systems, which often lack the resources or staffing needed to maintain compliance with federal drinking water regulations or implement infrastructure upgrades.

Industry organizations say the challenges facing water utilities extend beyond regulatory compliance and include aging infrastructure, system leaks and the high cost of modernization.

“Safe drinking water is a public health issue, an infrastructure issue, and a community trust issue,” stated the Plastic Pipe Institute’s (PPI) President David M. Fink. “The Plastics Pipe Institute and our members support strong action to protect safe drinking water and accelerate the replacement of aging, failing, and hazardous water infrastructure, including lead service lines. The issues raised in this hearing make clear that communities across the country are facing real challenges tied to corrosion, water loss, outdated systems and the rising cost of compliance.”

Codes, standards and infrastructure modernization

Industry experts note that ensuring safe drinking water requires coordination between federal infrastructure policy and the plumbing systems that ultimately deliver water inside buildings.

According to Matt Sigler, PMG Executive Director for the International Code Council (ICC), protecting drinking water systems depends on aligning federal oversight with modern plumbing codes, standards and product certification.

“End-to-end protection of drinking water systems is achieved through EPA’s upstream focus on Safe Drinking Water Act compliance and water infrastructure improvements, combined with the plumbing industry’s downstream focus on modern codes, standards and product certification,” Sigler said. “Together, these efforts ensure that plumbing products do not contaminate drinking water and that installations safeguard public health and safety.”

Sigler noted that modern plumbing codes play an important role in helping communities build resilient water systems capable of adapting to new infrastructure and environmental challenges.

“When jurisdictions do not adopt the latest plumbing codes, homeowners and communities lose access to modern, high-performing and safe plumbing technologies,” he said. “Outdated codes can also increase a community’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, especially when they lack provisions for water conservation, water reuse and end-use-based treatment requirements.”

As communities continue to address water scarcity and infrastructure resilience, Sigler said there are growing opportunities to incorporate water reuse technologies and align local plumbing codes with regional water management goals.

“As communities around the world continue to address water scarcity, there are opportunities to look at water reuse techniques — for example, rainwater capture — and ensure that the locally adopted codes align with local goals and needs,” Sigler said.

Certified plumbing products also play a key role in ensuring compliance with drinking water regulations once water enters a building.

“Plumbing products tested and certified to industry standards NSF 61 and NSF 372 help ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act’s lead-free and contaminant requirements,” Sigler explained. “Properly designed plumbing systems that follow modern plumbing codes reduce the risk of pathogen exposure within buildings and protect against cross-connections between potable and non-potable water or wastewater systems.”

Industry response

Manufacturers and infrastructure stakeholders say durable materials and sustained funding will also be critical as utilities work to upgrade aging systems.

According to the PPI, thermoplastic piping materials continue to gain adoption in municipal water systems due to their durability and resistance to corrosion. Heat-fused sections of solid-wall high-density polyethylene (HDPE), for example, can create leak-free systems while helping utilities reduce water loss and long-term maintenance costs. Thermoplastic pipe is also widely used in gas transmission and exploration, while other types of plastic piping are used inside buildings to deliver drinking water.

“PPI believes durable, corrosion-resistant materials should be part of that solution,” Fink emphasized. “Proven plastic piping systems can help utilities and communities replace deteriorating infrastructure, improve reliability, reduce leaks and build more resilient water systems for the long term.”

Fink also noted that sustained federal funding will be necessary to ensure communities can address the nation’s drinking water infrastructure challenges.

“We also support sustained funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and IIJA, along with strong oversight to ensure these dollars are used effectively and reach the communities that need them most, especially small, rural and disadvantaged systems facing the greatest resource challenges,” he said.

The EPA’s announcement highlights the growing need to modernize the nation’s water infrastructure, much of which was installed decades ago and now requires significant upgrades to meet modern water quality standards and population demands.

Through the RealWaterTA initiative, federal officials say they hope to better connect utilities with technical expertise and funding resources, helping communities accelerate improvements while ensuring compliance with federal drinking water regulations.

As utilities and communities work to modernize aging infrastructure, industry experts say protecting drinking water ultimately requires coordination between federal policy, infrastructure investment and the plumbing systems that deliver water inside buildings. “End-to-end protection of drinking water systems is achieved through EPA’s upstream focus on Safe Drinking Water Act compliance and water infrastructure improvements, combined with the plumbing industry’s downstream focus on modern codes, standards and product certification,” Sigler said. “Together, these efforts ensure that plumbing products do not contaminate drinking water and that installations safeguard public health and safety.”

Source https://www.supplyht.com/articles/107116-epa-launches-initiative-to-strengthen-us-drinking-water-systems