Amata Welcomes EPA Water Project Funding of Over $30 Million, and Congratulates ASPA

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata welcomed official notification of a cooperative agreement providing full federal funding of $30,706,273 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA), for multiple water infrastructure projects. The funding is based on several legislative authorizations from Congress. Of these funds, $800,000 is set aside for EPA to develop a Waste and Wastewater Asset Management System, leaving approximately $30 million ($29,906,273) for the rest of the plan.

Congresswoman Aumua Amata at a Capitol press conference - file photo

"This is excellent news! Congratulations to Governor Pulaali'i, Lt. Governor Pulu, and especially the entire team at ASPA, and anyone who worked on this planning at any prior stage. I know these priority projects will benefit our people, water infrastructure, and the quality of services. Thank you to EPA for this support which can make a difference in American Samoa, providing safer water for many years to come," said Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

Congressional authorization for these funds is rooted in landmark legislation, the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, which celebrated 50 years bipartisan support in 2024, with this funding more recently derived from the Omnibus Territory Act and the Infrastructure Investment and jobs Act, often known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congresswoman Amata publicly supported throughout its congressional process. It was signed into law Nov. 15, 2021.

The funds supply the American Samoa's Environmental Protection Consolidated Grant for Insular Areas Program, and BIL/Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund Water Infrastructure Projects.

This year's award will fund design and construction for tank installation and replacement, waterline replacement, sewer lift station rehabilitation/replacement, setting up Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) for the drinking water system, sewer system extension, and wastewater treatment improvements.

The proposed projects are taken from the USEPA approved ASEPA project priority list, however, the specific project priorities may change through the years dependent on the need of addressing protection of human health and the environment. The proposed projects will focus on tank installation and improvements, waterline replacement, well and booster station upgrades, setting up SCADA for the satellite water systems, new water treatment systems, and asset management.

The water system improvement projects' primary objectives include replacing old leaking water mains, upgrading undersized mains, improving water treatment and thus reducing public health risks, reducing operations and maintenance costs, improving useful life of assets, and managing water sources for future generations.

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