This agreement funds a capitalization grant for the recipient's clean water state revolving fund program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded $1.811 million to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) on July 1, 2025, under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program (CFDA 66.458). This capitalization grant funds the OWRB's establishment and operation of a state revolving fund that provides low-interest financing to municipalities and local government entities for water quality improvement and protection projects. The primary focus of this award is addressing emerging contaminants—including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, microplastics, and other physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substances that pose newly identified or re-emerging risks to human health and the environment.

Through this mechanism, the OWRB will deploy funds as loans to subrecipients for planning, design, and construction of eligible water infrastructure projects that address emerging contaminant challenges. The anticipated deliverables include financing for water quality improvement projects, with expected outcomes to improve and protect water quality throughout Oklahoma, benefiting citizens statewide. The award performance period extends through June 30, 2030, establishing a self-sustaining financing mechanism whereby loan repayments will generate continued funding availability for future water infrastructure initiatives.

Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or RE-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment. These substances, microorganisms or materials can include many different types of natural or manufactured chemicals and substances - such as those in some compounds of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. Activities:the recipients of these funds will provide low interest financing to numerous subrecipients for costs eligible under section 603(c) of the clean water act, with the primary purpose of addressing emerging contaminants. Subrecipient:loans will be provided to municipalities through the state revolving fund programs to fund direct infrastructure projects.outcomes:anticipated deliverables include financing planning, design, and construction of eligible water quality improvement and protection projects. The expected outcomes are to improve and protect water quality with an emphasis on emerging contaminants. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.