This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state of massachusetts to implement resources and priorities to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 awarded $19.554 million to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on October 1, 2025, under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program (CFDA 66.442) to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminants in drinking water systems serving small and disadvantaged communities.

MassDEP will implement grant funding and technical assistance to public water systems and communities for long-term remedial actions addressing emerging contaminants; provide supplies to increase the MassDEP State Environmental Laboratory's capacity for analytical testing of small and disadvantaged community water supplies for PFAS and other emerging contaminants; fund state personnel to manage and operate the emerging contaminants–small and disadvantaged communities grant program; and conduct statewide sampling and study of PFAS in domestic wastewater through analysis of septage waste, municipal and private drinking water wells, and consumer products to identify possible PFAS sources in drinking water.

Activities include research and testing, planning and design, treatment of emerging contaminants, source water activities, storage, water system restructuring, households' access to drinking water services, technical assistance, outreach and education, and workforce or training support to public water systems addressing emerging contaminants.

The period of performance runs through September 30, 2031, with work performed across Massachusetts. Sub-awards direct funding to the Town of Templeton (April 28, 2026), Town of Bridgewater Fire Department (July 7, 2026), Barnstable Fire District (July 7, 2026), and Town of West Brookfield (July 31, 2026) to assist their public water systems in addressing known PFAS and other emerging contaminants through technical and financial assistance.

This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state of massachusetts to implement resources and priorities to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminant challenges and target resources to communities most in need of assistance to ensure that no community is left behind with unsafe, inadequate water. With the use of this award funding, the state of massachusetts will implement projects such as the following: 1. Provide grant funding and technical assistance to PWS and/or communities to implement long-term remedial actions to address emerging contaminants. 2. Provide supplies to increase the capacity of the massachusetts department of environmental protection (massdep) state environmental laboratory to provide analytical testing of small and disadvantaged community water supplies for PFAS and other emerging contaminants. 3. Provide funding for massachusetts state personnel to effectively manage and run the EC-SDC grant program. 4. Provide funding for a state-wide small or disadvantaged communities sampling program and study of PFAS in domestic wastewater through sampling septage waste, municipality and private drinking water wells, and consumer products to determine possible sources of PFAS in drinking water. Activities:the activities include projects and activities to address emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities, including but not limited to research and testing; planning and design to address emerging contaminates; treatment of emerging contaminants; source water activities related to emerging contaminants; storage; water system restructuring; providing households access to drinking water services; technical assistance; outreach and education; and workforce or training support to public water systems in addressing emerging contaminants. Subrecipient:the subawards will be for improvements to drinking water to reduce exposure of PFAS or other emerging contaminants in drinking water for the citizen of massachusetts.outcomes:this agreement is to an eligible state or territory to implement a program to provide assistance to address emerging contaminants in drinking water to small or disadvantaged communities. Funds are to carry out projects and activities needed for public water systems to comply with the safe drinking water act, programs to provide household water quality testing, activities for a state to respond to a drinking water contaminants, and activities that benefit the impacted communities. The anticipated deliverables include the following: 1. Number of PWS that remediate their water supplies, and the population served, including: a. Number of PWS that consolidate with other PWS. B. Number of treatment plants designed, and the population served by the PWS for which they are designed. C. Number of new treatment systems constructed and installed, and the population served. D. Number of new wells developed, and the population served. E. Number of private wells connected to an existing PWS, and the population served. The expected outcomes include the following: 1. A reduction in the number of water supplies, serving small or disadvantaged communities, providing water that is out of compliance with massachusetts' PFAS drinking water standard and a reduction in the population of massachusetts residents that are drinking water that exceeds that standard. 2. A reduction in the number of water supplies, serving small or disadvantaged communities providing water that exceeds the final EPA PFAS standards and a reduction in the population of massachusetts residents that are drinking water that exceeds those final standards. 3. A reduction in the number of water supplies, serving small or disadvantaged communities that face real or potential public health threats due to other emerging contaminants, including manganese, and a reduction in the population of massachusetts r