Sens. Markey and Warren, Rep. Trahan Introduce Legislation to Provide Grants for Local Water Infrastructure Emergencies

Bill Text (PDF)

Washington (July 14, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) today introduced the Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act, legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize emergency assistance and grants for clean water and drinking water infrastructure. When severe rainstorms this July caused a sewer pipe to break in Haverhill, Massachusetts, millions of gallons of untreated wastewater flowed into the Merrimack River, endangering public safety and resulting in economic losses from beach and fisheries closures. This legislation would provide technical and financial support to water treatment facilities during emergency situations in order to prevent and mitigate threats to public health, such as exposure to contaminants.

"Water system emergencies spell disaster for their communities-they're expensive, bad for business, and dangerous to public health. Our communities deserve clean water and quick access to support in response to emergency situations that put their health and economies in danger," said Senators Markey and Warren. "The federal government should be able to provide emergency grants for emergency situations. This legislation would authorize grants for clean water and drinking water, so we can spend more time keeping our communities safe and local businesses open, and less time hiking rates and fighting pollution."

"Haverhill showed us what happens when a century-old system fails and the federal government is nowhere to be found. Cities were left to fight sewage flowing into the Merrimack with local dollars and borrowed time," said Congresswoman Trahan. "Our bill fixes that. It puts real federal money on the table the moment an emergency like this hits, so no community has to face it alone."

On July 2, Senators Markey and Warren wrote to four federal agencies regarding the potential need for federal assistance following the sewer line break that released contaminants into the Merrimack River.

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