The U.S. Department of the Interior announced this week that an additional $240 million in funding will go to aging water infrastructure in the West, including four projects in Utah.

“As western communities face growing challenges accessing water in the wake of record drought, these investments in our aging water infrastructure will safeguard community water supplies and revitalize water delivery systems,” said Interior Sec. Deb Haaland in a release.

This money comes from the bipartisan infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed last November. The Bureau of Reclamation approved 46 projects across 11 states, and now applicants can decide if they want to accept the funding or not. The four Utah projects were awarded around $70 million.

One is at Deer Creek Reservoir, which is part of the Provo River system. It could cost as much as $100 million to replace 80-year-old parts on the dam, while keeping the water flowing. Jeff Budge, the operations and engineering manager with the Provo River Water Users Association, said they may utilize the $25 million in federal funding for the project. Though, they’re considering various sources to see what best fits their needs.

To read more, visit KUER.org.

This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.