Home renovation can be expensive. If that remodel includes pipes in your bathroom or kitchen, the cost goes up. Now, imagine the cost associated with construction involving the infrastructure necessary to treat and transport safe drinking water to and through an entire community.

Fortunately, in the United States, federal loan programs often help water utilities to maintain and repair their infrastructure while limiting the impact on our water bills. Programs like the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) have allowed communities to invest in necessary fixes before they become too expensive.

But these programs are in jeopardy, as the White House and U.S. Congress discuss deep budget cuts. If these cuts come to pass, the financial burden for these infrastructure upgrades will fall more directly on consumers, many of whom already have a hard time paying their bills.

Ironically, these federal loan programs are efficient and don’t have a large or enduring impact on the federal coffers. WIFIA provides low-interest, long-term loans, which communities must repay. The favorable interest rates make large infrastructure projects more affordable and financially viable. SRFs are state-managed loan programs that combine federal and state dollars. As communities repay these loans, the funds are recycled to support future projects, making them self-sustaining over time.

There are countless stories of these federal programs allowing communities to make improvements at a reduced cost.

This is a pivotal moment for the future of our nation’s water systems. Now is the time for us all to come together to ensure we keep funds flowing so we can enjoy continued access to safe, affordable, and resilient water infrastructure.