This action provides funding in the amount of $20,716,000.00 to assist the georgia environmental finance authority

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $20.7 million to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority on July 1, 2025, under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (CFDA 66.468). These capitalization grant funds are designated to support low-interest rate financing for eligible drinking water infrastructure projects that address emerging contaminants, with particular emphasis on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The funds will be distributed through the State Revolving Fund mechanism to provide below-market-rate loans to public water systems for planning, design, and construction activities, extending through June 30, 2031.

In addition to direct infrastructure financing, GEFA will allocate portions of the award to set-aside activities including technical assistance for small public water systems, operator certification programs, and source water protection initiatives. A notable sub-award recipient, Clayton County Water Authority, is implementing a PFAS treatment project that commenced in February 2024 and includes PFAS treatment facilities at the Hooper Water Plant (20 million gallons per day capacity) and the Hicks Water Plant (30 million gallons per day capacity), along with a new 20 million gallon per day treatment plant at the Hicks site. These investments are expected to enhance the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of participating water systems while protecting public health across Georgia in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

These funds are for drinking water state revolving fund program (DWSRF) eligible projects that address emerging contaminants in drinking water with a focus on projects addressing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The award furthers the public health protection objectives of the safe drinking water act (SDWA).activities:the recipient of these funds will provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for the costs associated with the planning, design, and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects. The recipient may also use some of the funding for specific set-asides, including but not limited to providing technical assistance to small systems, for operator certification activities, and source water protection activities.subrecipient:loan agreements for drinking water state revolving fund BIL general supplemental projects.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing, planning, design, and construction of eligible emerging contaminant-focused, public health-related projects. Deliverables will also be used to increase the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems. The expected outcome is protection of public health protection and intended beneficiaries are citizens throughout the state.