EPA announces $251 million to upgrade California’s drinking water infrastructure
On Sept. 18, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $251 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), which aims to improve several of California’s drinking water plants in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The loan will advance water reuse technologies to help address aging infrastructure and increase capacity to meet communities’ current and future water demands, while also strengthening resilience to droughts and wildfires.
“In April, EPA launched the Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 to expand strategic opportunities to reuse water in ways that strengthen American industry, energy and economic growth and local drinking water supplies,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “I am thrilled that Las Virgenes-Triunfo Public Financing Authority is using EPA’s $251 million WIFIA loan to advance water reuse. This project not only bolsters local drinking water supplies during everyday and extreme conditions, it also reduces demand on water from northern California that can be used for agriculture and other uses.”
“This is a transformational milestone for our region,” said Andy Coradeschi, Chair of the Las Virgenes-Triunfo Public Financing Authority. “The Pure Water Project is not just about infrastructure but rather securing a sustainable and drought-resistant future for our 105,000 customers. We are deeply grateful to the EPA and we look forward to bringing our water full circle.”
