The village safe water (VSW) program (see alaska statute 46.07) provides financial and technical support to design and construct sanitation systems and supporting infrastructure in the state's smaller…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation a $43.17 million Cooperative Agreement under the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202) on July 1, 2025, to design and construct water and wastewater infrastructure in 14 rural and Alaska Native communities throughout Alaska. The award, which extends through June 30, 2030, implements the Village Safe Water (VSW) Program established under Alaska Statute 46.07 to provide financial and technical support for sanitation system improvements that protect public health and environmental quality while advancing compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act.

The primary deliverables include safe drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure serving communities in Adak, Aleknagik, Ruby, Noatak, Kiana, and nine additional rural Alaskan communities. Specific project activities encompass wastewater improvements in Adak and Aleknagik; water and sewer service extension to 26 homes in Ruby; a new water well and transmission line relocation in Noatak; and manhole replacement and sewer improvements in Kiana. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and City of Bethel serve as sub-grantees administering subaward activities, with ANTHC managing nine community projects and the City of Bethel implementing Bethel Heights water and sewer improvements. The anticipated outcomes are sustainable water and wastewater utilities that meet federal and state drinking water and wastewater standards, benefiting the residents of participating rural Alaskan communities.

The village safe water (VSW) program (see alaska statute 46.07) provides financial and technical support to design and construct sanitation systems and supporting infrastructure in the state's smaller and remote communities throughout the state of alaska. The VSW program grant improves the coordination and delivery of sanitation services and facilities to the rural population in order to protect the human health and environment and promote compliance with the safe drinking water act and the clean water act.activities:the award will fund the design and construction of water and wastewater facilities in 14 rural and alaska native communities including supplemental funding for wastewater improvements in adak and aleknagik, water and sewer for 26 homes in ruby, new capital improvement project for a water well and transmission line relocation in noatak, and a manhole replacement and sewer improvements in kiana.subrecipient:subaward activities to be administered by the alaska native tribal health consortium (anthc) and the city of bethel is for sanitation facility improvements and to have a safe system of water delivery and safe means of sewage disposal in the rural communities of alaska.outcomes:anticipated deliverables are water and wastewater infrastructure to provide safe drinking water and wastewater treatment to protect public and environmental health in the communities of adak, aleknagik, ruby, noatak, kiana, and nine (9) other rural communities. Anticipated outcomes include sustainable utilities that meet drinking water and wastewater standard and regulations. The intended beneficiaries are the residents in the rural alaskan communities.