vvEPA FACT SHEET Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act1 appropriated funds under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Section 1459A(a)-(j) with a particular focus on emerging contaminants (ECs). The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program has the same statutory authority as the Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities (SUDC) Grant Program, but the IIJA appropriation specifically focuses these funds on addressing ECs and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water across small or disadvantaged OBJECTIVE: TACKLING FOREVER CHEMICALS The grant program is anticipated to systematically support the reduction of the public's exposure to PFAS and ECs through their drinking water. Since over 90 percent of the water systems in the United States are small and many are disadvantaged, the anticipated public health protection impact of this grant is significant. Contaminants addressed include PFAS and any contaminant from EPA's Contaminant Candidate Lists. FOCUS • ECs or PFAS in small or disadvantaged communities' drinking water. • Eligible small systems serving fewer than 10,000 people and cannot incur sufficient debt for a project. • A community may be considered disadvantaged based on their State's definition under SDWA section 1452(d)(3). FUNDING DETAILS • EPA allocated ~ $2 billion (FY22 and FY23) in February 2023 and ~ $1 billion in April 2024 noncompetitively to states and territories through two allotment memoranda. • No match or cost-share requirement. • States and territories apply for funding, administer grants, and make funding available for eligible beneficiaries. • State contacts are available online. 1 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58, Nov. 15, FUNDING AMOUNT $1 billion Annually (FY2022-FY2026) will be made available for projects that address ECs and PFAS in drinking water. CURRENT APPLICANTS STATES AND TERRITORIES All 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands can receive allotments of funding annually from FY 22-26. Tribes: Funds to support water systems serving Tribes are administered by EPA Regional Offices through a separate program. Page 1 of 2 ------- ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES IMPLEMENTATION • Privately- and publicly-owned community water systems and non-profit non-community water systems that serve small and/or disadvantaged communities. • FY2024 funding only: One or more owners of drinking water wells that are not public water systems (PWSs) or connected to a PWS, "private wells"2. 2 Congress authorized the funds appropriated through the FY 2024 appropriation, P.L. 118-42 (Mar. 8, 2024), for the SUDC and EC-SDC programs to be used to help benefit private wells. This use is in addition to existing eligibilities under both the SUDC and EC-SDC programs. Congress directed the EPA to encourage that grant beneficiaries making less than the average household income in their State or Territory are prioritized. The EC-SDC Grant Program implementation guidance document will support grant recipients with the planning and execution of their programs, while also achieving the overall objectives and reporting measures. The implementation document is available on EPA's EC-SDC Grant website. EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS INCLUDE: Build new treatment facilities with EC removal capability Conducting initial, special (non- routine/non-compliance) testing to establish a baseline understanding of an EC or operation of newly-used technology Upgrade existing treatment facilities (i.e., expanding/adding new treatment equipment), including private wells Consolidation with another water system that does not have ECs present or has removal capability Adding training on ECs into state operator certification materials Training operators on how to conduct monitoring for ECs or special-purpose monitoring at a facility that has not previously tested for ECs Project planning and design Pilot testing for treatment alternatives Technical assistance to diagnose EC problems at their water systems Source exploration and new source development Laboratory testing equipment such as supplying water test kits and instructions to households Research to identify the presence, source, or extent of PFAS or EC contamination in source water, as well as initial, non-routine monitoring Development and update of source water protection plans to address PFAS or ECs Implementation of source water protection measures to prevent PFAS or ECs such as capping abandoned wells, PFAS take-back programs, and public outreach SUDC EC-SDC Authorized under SDWA 1459A(a)-(j), as amended by Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) Authorized under SDWA 1459A(a)-(j) and IIJA 10% cost share (waived for FY2024) 0% cost share Private wells eligibility for FY24 funding only Private wells eligibility for FY24 funding only Requires the community to be underserved3 Does not require the community to be underserved3 Focuses on SDWA compliance and access to drinking water services Per the IIJA appropriation, focuses on emerging contaminants and PFAS 3 "Underserved" refers to communities that have inadequate systems for obtaining drinking water per Section 1459A(a) of SDWA Office of Water (4606) EPA-810-F-24-046 November 2024 ------- |