Pennsylvania announces $306.4 million for water and wastewater projects in 23 counties
Pennsylvania is directing $306.4 million toward 29 drinking-water and wastewater projects across 23 counties, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority announced July 15, 2026.
The investment is intended to support clean drinking water, safer water infrastructure and improvements that protect public health. The funding will move through PENNVEST, the state authority that finances water and wastewater infrastructure projects for communities across Pennsylvania.
The announcement represents a statewide infrastructure investment rather than a project limited to one municipality or region. The 29 projects are spread across 23 counties, although the public announcement does not assign the same amount to every county or provide a county-by-county breakdown.
State and federal funding combined
The money comes from both state and federal sources. The funding streams identified in the announcement include money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the 2021 federal infrastructure law.
Combining those sources allows Pennsylvania to support projects involving both drinking-water systems and wastewater infrastructure. Drinking-water systems provide water to households and communities, while wastewater systems handle infrastructure used to collect and manage water after it leaves homes and businesses.
The announcement describes the work broadly as an effort to modernize water infrastructure and protect public health. It does not list the individual award for each of the 29 projects or describe the specific construction work planned at each location.
Part of a larger PENNVEST investment record
The Shapiro administration said it has invested more than $3.7 billion through PENNVEST since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office. That figure refers to the administration’s broader PENNVEST investment record and is separate from the $306.4 million announced for this round.
As part of that cumulative record, the administration also cited more than 40,000 lead service lines. That figure was presented as an administration-wide total, not as a number of lead service lines addressed by these 29 projects.
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development publicized the new investment as part of the administration’s water-infrastructure efforts. The announcement identifies the projects as serving communities in 23 counties, making the funding relevant to local water systems and the residents who depend on them.
What the investment could mean for communities
Water and wastewater systems are essential public infrastructure. Their condition affects the delivery of drinking water, the collection and treatment of wastewater, and the ability of communities to maintain safe and reliable service.
Funding for those systems can help communities carry out improvements that might otherwise be difficult to finance. In this case, the announcement frames the projects around clean drinking water, safe water infrastructure, public health and modernization. The practical effect will depend on the project serving each community and on the work ultimately completed there.
The announcement does not establish a specific household or ratepayer effect for each project. It also does not say that construction has begun on every project. Individual schedules and completion dates will vary by project.
The next steps will therefore take place at the project level as the communities and water systems involved advance the funded work. For now, the confirmed statewide action is $306.4 million for 29 drinking-water and wastewater projects in 23 Pennsylvania counties, backed by state and federal resources that include Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding.
Sources
- Shapiro Administration Invests $306.4 Million Across 23 Counties Through PENNVEST, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
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