The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) capitalization grant totaling $11.104 million under CFDA 66.468, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this formula grant capitalizes Oklahoma's DWSRF to provide low-interest financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure projects. The award prioritizes emerging contaminant remediation, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), while advancing the public health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The DEQ will deliver financing mechanisms and technical support services to municipalities and public water systems throughout Oklahoma. Key products and services include: low-interest rate loans for eligible drinking water improvement projects; technical assistance to small water systems; operator certification program support; and source water protection activities. All funds distributed to municipalities will be issued as loans rather than grants, establishing a sustainable revolving fund mechanism. The award's anticipated outcomes include completion of PFAS-focused and public health-related drinking water infrastructure projects, enhanced technical and managerial capacity for participating water systems, and improved public health protection across Oklahoma communities.