Iowa has introduced a $319 million, 12-year water quality funding program aimed at upgrading treatment infrastructure and expanding monitoring systems statewide. The proposal restructures existing funding programs while adding new investments to address drinking water and wastewater challenges.
The program includes upgrades to water and wastewater treatment facilities, expanded watershed management initiatives, and increased water quality monitoring. It also supports projects to reduce nutrient runoff through conservation practices such as cover crops, buffer zones, and wetland restoration.
The proposal increases annual funding for the state’s Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance program from $7.7 million to $12.09 million and includes an additional $8 million one-time allocation. Grants for local infrastructure projects will increase to a maximum of $1 million per project.
The package also establishes a $10 million revolving loan fund to support water and wastewater upgrades in small and mid-sized communities. In addition, it allocates $25 million in one-time funding to Central Iowa Water Works to expand nitrate removal capacity. The state will fund these one-time investments through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund.
The proposal includes a new watershed program focused on the Des Moines River basin, supported by $3.72 million in annual funding. The state will also allocate $500,000 annually to expand water quality monitoring efforts.
The program aims to improve drinking water reliability, reduce contamination risks, and support long-term water quality management across urban and rural systems.