Each month during the 2020 celebration of the Environmental Protection Agency at 50 years, the EPA is highlighting a different topic of our nation’s ecosystem.
Throughout the month of February, EPA highlighted accomplishments and issued new announcements that demonstrate the agency’s continued commitment to drinking water and surface water protection, as well as publishing a new “story map” to illustrate progress and continued efforts to protect America’s waters.
The report shows that in the past 50 years, the number of community water systems which meet all health standards has gone from 40% to 92% (yes – there is still work to be done!)
The EPA also announced new funding and took action in February to protecting our waters:
- $40 million in funding to further reduce lead in drinking water
- $1.8 million for innovative, market-based nutrient reduction projects in the Great Lakes basin
- 2 (Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan closings ($40 million in Florida and $59 million in California)
- Proposal of regulatory determinations for PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) in drinking water
- Announcement of the National Water Reuse Action Plan: Collaborative Implementation (Version 1), which includes commitments that will help strengthen the sustainability, security and resilience of our nation’s water resources by promoting water reuse.
To learn more visit the Water Story Map or the EPA at 50.
