Warner & Kaine Announce Over $2.8 Million in Funding for Water Quality and Access Improvements in Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $2,869,000 in federal funding to improve water quality and increase access to safe drinking water in Wythe County and to assess the public health risk from harmful chemicals in local landfills in rural communities across Virginia. This funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The funding will impact thousands of residents and help ensure Virginians have access to safe, reliable drinking water.

“Every Virginian should have access to safe, reliable drinking water,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding will promote efforts to protect water quality in the Commonwealth.”

The funding will be awarded as follows:

• $2,737,000 for Wythe County to make multiple improvements, including a new pump station, new and restored water lines, additional water meters, and 34 new fire hydrants, for residents served by private wells in the Dunsford Road area. This investment will address an existing health hazard for 1,035 residents, service 110 new customers, and improve service to over 330 existing clients in Wythe County. 
• $132,000 for George Mason University in Fairfax County to conduct a study on polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in rural Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia landfill liners to determine whether PFAS migration poses significant risks to drinking water sources. The findings of this study will be made publicly available to help inform communities’ water infrastructure needs.

Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve water infrastructure across the Commonwealth. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law the senators helped pass, Virginia has received more than $358 million for water infrastructure projects, including more than $94 million announced this week to upgrade drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.

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