Biden administration expands program to help rural towns plagued by sewage problems

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says it’s expanding a program to help rural communities with serious sewage problems get technical help to plan improvements and apply for funding. The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that 150 more communities will be able to apply for assistance, in addition to 11 chosen in 2022 for a pilot program. More than 2 million people in the U.S. lack indoor plumbing and more live with failing sewage systems that can result in waste backing up into homes or pooling on the ground, threatening public health and degrading basic dignity.