Water infrastructure overhaul

States, Native American tribes and US territories will receive US$7.4 billion (NZ$10.8b) in 2022 to improve water quality and access, in the first instalment from the infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed into law last month. The legislation commits US$50b for water and wastewater infrastructure over five years, with US$15b allocated for removing lead pipes, and US$10b to address contamination from toxic chemicals. The US Environmental Protection Agency is urging local administrators to prioritise spending the money in low-income and minority communities that have long faced challenges in accessing clean water. The Biden Administration initially proposed investing US$45 billion to replace every lead pipe and service line in the country.