EPA Grant to Reduce Water Contaminants Now Available

Through President Biden’s recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making $1 billion in grant funding available in 2022 ($5 billion total for fiscal years 2022-2026) for states, territories, and tribes to reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water for small or disadvantaged communities. Emerging contaminants include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals and personal care products, unregulated contaminants such as manganese, perchlorate, 1,4 dioxane, and any contaminant on the EPA’s Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). Funding is for scoping, planning, testing, and remediating emerging contaminants in drinking and source water.

States and territories that wish to participate in this “Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities” grant program must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the EPA by August 15, 2022. The LOI must come from an official within the governor’s office, the director of the designated agency in charge of administering the grant to reduce water contaminants or other authorized officials. LOIs can be emailed to WIINDrinkingWaterGrants@epa.gov. Upon receipt, the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) will forward a copy of the LOI to the applicant’s EPA Regional Office for recording. EPA Regional offices are the primary points of contact to resolve issues, approve grant applications, and award funding.

For more information, refer to the EPA’s latest article, Emerging Contaminants (EC) in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant (SDC).