Federal Clean Water Act (1972)
Congress requires municipalities to upgrade wastewater and stormwater systems to meet water quality standards. Billions flow to local projects over the following decades.
Cities across the U.S. build new treatment plants and sewer lines
Many small towns deferred maintenance after initial grants, leaving aging pipes for later generations
Greenville's current sewer work stems from the same deferred-maintenance pattern—a pipe installed in the 1970s is now reaching the end of its design life.
