Harris to tout $5.8B in water infrastructure funding in Pennsylvania

Vice President Harris on Tuesday plans to announce the latest tranche of bipartisan infrastructure law money going toward improving the country’s drinking water infrastructure — $5.8 billion.

Harris is slated to announce the funds in a trip to Pittsburgh, alongside EPA Administrator Michael Regan. 

The funds include $3.2 billion for drinking water infrastructure and $2.6 billion for sewer and stormwater infrastructure. 

“Today, I am proud to announce more than $5.8 billion from our Investing in America agenda for states, Tribes, and territories to upgrade water infrastructure in communities across our nation,” Harris said in a written statement. 

“With this investment, we are continuing our urgent work to remove every lead pipe in the country and ensure that every American has access to safe and reliable drinking water,” she added.

The funds are not explicitly designated for replacing lead-based pipes, but may be used for that purpose. Exposure to lead has been linked to brain damage in children.

Of the $5.8 billion, more than $1 billion is dedicated to certain chemicals polluting water such as a group called PFAS that have been linked to illnesses including certain cancers and immune system problems. These substances have become pervasive in U.S. waterways and peoples’ bodies.