Newhouse Secures Funding to Replace Methow River Water Main

Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced the Town of Winthrop’s request for Community Project Funding to replace the existing water main over the Methow River was officially awarded.

“As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I have a unique opportunity to submit essential funding requests for the communities of Central Washington,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The water main in the Town of Winthrop is critical to the livelihood of the Winthrop community as it serves more than 70% of the town's residents and businesses, but it is failing. I’m proud to help provide the town with a reliable and safe water system for years to come.”

“Congressman Newhouse introduced the appropriation process and supported the Water Line Replacement Project for the town. Securing funding for these projects is difficult for a small community and replacement of this pipe is essential to providing safe reliable water to our residents and businesses. This appropriation will service Winthrop for another 50 years,” said Town of Winthrop Mayor Sally Ranzau.

Background:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $667,000 to the Town of Winthrop for the Water Main Reconstruction Project, as identified in the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

In FY 2023, Congress appropriated resources for 715 congressionally directed water infrastructure projects (EPA Community Grants) totaling $1.47 billion under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117 – 328). These projects provide a valuable source of federal funding for water infrastructure that will complement the resources Congress provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the annual appropriations process.

The existing water main over the Methow River was installed in 1965 and is failing. It is the only water main across the Methow River and serves more than 70% of the town’s population and businesses as well as the sole supply for firefighting.

As the representative of Washington’s 4th Congressional District, Rep. Newhouse has the opportunity to submit up to 15 requests for Community Project Funding. These requests are meant to restore Congress’s Article I powers by ensuring that federal funding is directly targeted toward projects that benefit surrounding communities and the district as a whole.

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