Section 1452 of the safe drinking water act (SDWA) authorizes the state to utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of SDWA

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded the Alabama Department of Environmental Management a $42.7 million Formula Grant under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (CFDA 66.468) to capitalize Alabama's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The funds will be used primarily to provide low-interest loans and other assistance to public water systems for eligible drinking water infrastructure projects that improve public health. Projects may include water treatment upgrades, water distribution system repairs, source water protection, and water storage tank replacement or construction. The state may also use some funding for program administration and technical assistance to small water systems. Subawards will support loan administration, technical assistance, and program management activities. By funding multiple water infrastructure improvements, the grant aims to increase the technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems and help ensure a safer drinking water supply statewide.

This actions approves an award in the amount of $38,787,000 to the alabama department of environmental management, authorized by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58), to capitalize their drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF) to provide low interest financing for costs associated with the planning, design and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects and activities to protect human health. As part of this agreement, the recipient ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, which are designed to protect public health.activities:the bulk of the DWSRF will be used for loans and other authorized assistance to public water systems for eligible projects, including improving drinking water treatment, fixing leaky or old pipes (water distribution), improving source of water supply, replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks, and other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health. The recipient may also use some of the funding for specific 'set-asides'; to provide technical assistance to small systems, program administration, state program management and other allowable uses.subrecipient:*subawards will be made for activities such as administering loans for projects, providing technical assistance to small systems, program administration, and state program management. Loan projectsoutcomes:the benefits of this grant will be to capitalize the recipient's DWSRF. The fund can then be used to increase technical, financial and managerial capacity of public water systems, and provide assurance of a cleaner and safer potable water supply by funding improvements to multiple water infrastructure projects. These public health benefits will be statewide.