This act modernizes water infrastructure by defining and funding the adoption of intelligent technologies for improved water and wastewater management.
Robert Bresnahan
Representative
PA-8
The Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 updates federal water pollution control grants to prioritize and fund "intelligent water infrastructure technology." This technology utilizes real-time monitoring, AI, and advanced sensors to improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater systems. The bill modifies grant uses to specifically cover the implementation of these smart technologies and increases the authorization of appropriations.
Water Infrastructure Bill Doubles Funding to $50M, Mandates AI and Leak Detection Tech
The newly proposed Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025 is basically telling the nation’s water utilities: It’s time to upgrade your tech, and we’re doubling the money to help you do it. This bill specifically targets the use of “intelligent water infrastructure technology”—think real-time sensors, predictive maintenance, and AI—to drag our aging water systems into the 21st century.
The Smart Water Mandate
This legislation updates the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to formally define what counts as “intelligent water infrastructure technology.” This isn't just about putting a few sensors on a pipe. It means funding systems that use artificial intelligence to optimize chemical treatment and energy use, which could be a huge win for utility budgets and the environment. It also covers advanced digital tools for design and construction, and crucial systems that continuously monitor water quality and detect leaks without shutting down service. For the average person, this means less money wasted on leaky pipes (which keeps water rates lower) and more reliable service, especially during extreme weather events.
Bending the Rules for Tech Adoption
Normally, federal infrastructure grants come with strict rules: you can’t use the money for ongoing operation or routine maintenance. But this bill makes a specific exception for the new smart tech. Grant funds can be used for the engineering, design, construction, implementation, training, and even the operations related to adopting this intelligent technology. This is a game-changer because it allows utilities to buy and learn how to use these complex systems without having to immediately find a separate budget for training and implementation. The goal here is to remove the financial hurdles that keep older, smaller utilities from making the initial tech leap.
Doubling Down on Dollars and Oversight
To back up this modernization push, the bill proposes increasing the maximum authorized funding for these specific grants from $25 million to $50 million and extends the authorization deadline to 2028. This signals a serious commitment to funding these high-tech upgrades. But the government wants accountability, too. The EPA Administrator is now required to report to Congress annually, detailing which projects received grants, how much those projects improved system resiliency (like surviving a flood or drought), and listing any projects that were denied funding and why. This level of required reporting aims to keep the program transparent and focused on measurable results, ensuring the money is actually going toward making the infrastructure stronger and smarter, not just buying the latest gadget.