Can Communities Afford Clean Water? EPA Asks for Comments
Published Date: 3/26/2026
Notice
Summary
The EPA wants your thoughts on how it checks if communities can afford clean water projects under the Clean Water Act. This update could change how towns plan and pay for water quality improvements, affecting budgets and timelines. You’ve got until May 26, 2026, to share your ideas and help shape smarter, fairer rules for everyone.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Change to Poverty Metrics
EPA is considering revisions to how it measures poverty for water utility costs. The guidance already includes a Lowest Quintile Poverty Indicator (LQPI) made of six indicators (LQPI #1: upper limit of the lowest income quintile, 50% weight; LQPI #2–#6: five measures each with 10% weight including percent below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, SNAP receipt, vacant housing, household growth trend, and unemployment). EPA is asking for comments on whether to revise these metrics.
Cost-of-Living Consideration
EPA is seeking comment on whether and how to include cost-of-living metrics in financial capability assessments for water projects. The notice cites median household income (MHI) as a potential proxy and asks for public data sources and methods to incorporate local affordability into FCA analyses.
Compliance Schedule Lengths
EPA will re-evaluate appropriate schedule lengths for communities to achieve Clean Water Act compliance, balancing timely protection of health and the environment with a community's ability to finance costs. The agency requests examples and information that illustrate unique community circumstances to inform reasonable timelines.
Counting Other Water Costs in WQS
For water quality standards (WQS) analyses, EPA is asking whether states and tribes should more explicitly include drinking water, stormwater, and asset management costs when characterizing a community's financial burden. EPA requests input on whether separate guidance or more specific instructions would help include these costs in the Municipal Preliminary Screener.
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Key Dates
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