EPA Recognizes Excellence and Innovation in Mid-Atlantic Water Infrastructure Projects

PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2026)– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Jessica Kramer recently recognized 48 water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation, including the City of Baltimore, Maryland’s Compliance Program Inventory to replace lead service lines in their water system. This project, financed in part by state revolving fund (SRF) programs, demonstrates the importance of water infrastructure for supporting healthy Americans and laying a foundation for economic prosperity.  

“This AQUARIUS recognition highlights how federal‑state‑local partnerships translate into real progress: better information, smarter investments, and safer water,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey. “Baltimore’s inventory shows that when water systems meet people where they are—on their blocks and in their homes—we can protect health, build trust, and move faster to replace lead service lines.” 

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs have provided a foundation of federal investment in water infrastructure for decades. The SRF programs directly support EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which emphasizes the need for clean air, land, and water for every American and the importance of cooperative federalism. 

Drinking Water: AQUARIUS Awards 

EPA’s AQUARIUS program celebrates drinking water projects financed in part by the DWSRFs that are innovative, resilient, and protect public health. Twenty-two projects carried out by state or local governments and drinking water utilities were recognized by the 2026 AQUARIUS program.  

Baltimore secured a $6.95 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan with $3.68 million in principal forgiveness using 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Lead Service Line Replacement funding, plus $9.59 million in local contributions, to accelerate its lead service line inventory, identifying over 9,600 service lines for replacement and taking the critical first step toward targeted replacement. 

Baltimore’s water system serves about 1.6 million residents across the city and suburbs and has a significant number of lead service lines in its system. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require complete inventories and prompt replacement to reduce exposure. The city submitted its interim inventory as required by the LCRR and continues review of the historical records, field investigations, inventory programming, and predictive modeling. Completing the inventory is a critical first step that will enable them to target replacement and deliver major public health benefits. 

Community engagement is central to this effort. The city effectively boosted participation and response rates by combining door‑to‑door canvassing, online guidance for at‑home testing, in‑person assistance, flyers and notices, public events, and information booths. This was complemented by minimally invasive Swordfish pipe material readings. In some neighborhoods, response rates increased nearly tenfold following outreach, according to Johns Hopkins University. This comprehensive, community responsive strategy builds trust, secures permissions, reduces the need for disruptive inspections, and accelerates inventory completion. Completing this inventory marks a major step in the city's initiative to remove lead from drinking water.  

Honorable mentions were also made for the following projects: 

See the full list of recognized projects and learn more about the AQUARIUS and PISCES programs. 

Background 

The SRF programs are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. The SRFs have provided over $265 billion in financial assistance to more than 50,000 water quality infrastructure projects and 76,000 drinking water projects across the country.