“Tap” into Clean and Safe Water: A Look into the Future of Underinvested Water Infrastructure in Region 4

Mixon notes that under the Biden Administration, federal funding for environmental justice communities burdened by underfunded water infrastructure became a key priority in national policy. However, accessing these resources remains a challenge in EPA Region 4. The historical and contextual foundations of environmental justice and water infrastructure issues in the United States. It examines how, and whether, funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law address these barriers. Two case studies in Jackson, Mississippi, and Lowndes County, Alabama are used to illustrate the real-world impact of systemic underinvestment. The Comment concludes cautiously optimistic, noting that while challenges remain, new programs offer hope for meaningful reform.