In a significant stride towards ensuring essential sanitation facilities throughout Indian Country, the Indian Health Service announced it will provide $702.6 million in funding to support clean water and sanitation systems.
IHS Using Funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The funding allocation is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This law allocates $3.5 billion to the IHS over a five-year period from FY 2022 and 2026. The purpose of this allocation over the five-year period is to to develop critical infrastructure. This includes robust drinking water sources, reliable sewage systems, and effective solid waste disposal facilities.
“The projects funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are critical towards making substantial improvements in clean water and sanitation systems in our tribal communities,” said IHS Director Roselyn Tso. “The IHS will continue to leverage the use of multiple strategies and available authorities to ensure timely and efficient distribution of this historic funding.”
Funded Projects are in Planning, Design, and Construction Stages
Approximately $613 million in FY 2023 BIL funding will be allocated for Tier 1 project construction costs. These projects are ready to fund because planning is complete. However, design and construction contract document creation activities are not yet complete for current Tier 1 projects. These steps must be finalized before a construction contract can be initiated through federal or tribal procurement methods. When combined with FY 2023 annual appropriations, the IHS will fully fund construction costs for 197 Tier 1 projects.
The IHS will support additional planning, design, and construction document creation activities for Tier 2 projects. IHS has a Sanitation Deficiency System to track sanitation projects in Indian Country. Currently, the System includes 589 Tier 2 projects, totaling about $2.5 billion. Tier 2 projects have an engineering assessment completed. For example, the assessment might have analyzed and scoped a problem and proposed a solution.
The IHS also allocates approximately $66 million to address potential project shortfalls. This funding can bolster planning, design, and construction document creation. This allocation also supports previously funded projects that went over the original project budget due to inflation-driven construction costs and supply chain constraints. Another $21 million will go to salaries, expenses, and administration. And, IHS has designated about $4 million for oversight by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Projects Will Benefit More than 36,000 American Indian and Alaska Native Households
These allocations align with recommendations from tribal leaders and prioritize projects that have progressed through planning phases and can seamlessly transition into the design and construction stages. The commitment to securing adequate funding for planning and design activities remains paramount.
The outcome of this funding is substantial – more than 36,000 American Indian and Alaska Native households will benefit by gaining access to essential services. Further, improved sanitation facilities can reduce inpatient and outpatient visits related to respiratory, skin and soft tissue, and gastroenteric disease. Additionally, the IHS estimates each dollar invested in water and sewer infrastructure could yield savings of about $1.18 in avoided direct health care costs for these diseases.
Learn More About IHS and Sanitation
The IHS launched an interactive website in April to inform the public about projects funded through the BIL. This dynamic platform will consistently offer updated information, encompassing project funding amounts, tribes served, homes impacted, and project statuses.
The nationwide Sanitation Facilities Construction Program at IHS is responsible for the delivery of environmental engineering services and sanitation facilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives, providing homes and communities with essential water supply, sewage disposal, and solid waste disposal facilities. The program provides technical and financial assistance to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages for cooperative development and construction of safe water, wastewater, and solid waste systems and related support facilities.
