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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 5, awarded $19.734 million in formula grant funding to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (MDEGLE) under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program (CFDA 66.442) effective October 1, 2025. This award supports comprehensive efforts to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in Michigan's small and disadvantaged communities through infrastructure improvements, water quality testing, and technical assistance. The grant period extends through September 30, 2029.

Through subawards to the City of Cadillac and Ely Township, MDEGLE will deliver water infrastructure improvements and household drinking water access solutions. Specific deliverables include connection of approximately 220 homes in Cadillac to the township's drinking water system and completion of the Ely Township water system project. Additionally, MDEGLE will conduct private well testing for PFAS contamination and provide complementary services including planning and design activities, treatment system implementation, source water protection, water system restructuring, household water quality testing, technical assistance, workforce training, and community outreach and education to ensure Safe Drinking Water Act compliance across targeted communities.

This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state of michigan 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. Michigan will implement projects such as water infrastructure improvements for the city of cadillac and ELY township with the use of this award funding. Egle will also test private wells for PFAS contamination. 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:subawards to the city of cadillac and ELY township.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 an increase in the number of households with drinking water services in small and disadvantaged communities. The city of cadillac PFAS project will connect up to 220 homes to the township's drinking water system. ELY township's water system will have a contaminant removed by treatment, serving a population of 1,965. The expected outcomes include: reduction in the number of public or private water systems serving small or disadvantaged communities that face real or potential public health threats due to emerging contaminants, reduction in the number of residents with drinking water sources that are out of compliance with health-based standards in small/disadvantaged communities, increase in the population that is served by a water system or, and thereby a decrease in the number of residents threatened by emerging contaminants and that benefit from the federal investments in drinking water infrastructure improvements to respective communities, proactive asset planning and financial management for public water systems in small/disadvantaged communities to ensure long-term health and operating success of the citizenry, the opportunity for the public water systems to provide the constituency of the community with safe drinking water. The intended beneficiaries include residents of michigan. Direct beneficiaries of this program include all state residents and occupants, both permanent and temporary.