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 6 awarded the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission a $29.77 million Formula Grant under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. The grant capitalizes Arkansas's DWSRF to provide low-interest financing through 2026 for drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health. Eligible projects include improving treatment facilities, replacing aging pipes, and constructing water storage tanks. The Commission may also use some funding for set-asides like technical assistance to small systems and program administration. Loans from the DWSRF are considered subawards and will finance additional eligible projects. The grant aims to increase technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems statewide to ensure a safer water supply.

This agreement will provide funds, authorized by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58), to capitalize the recipient's 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 SRF 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:loans awarded as part of the drinking water state revolving fund program are considered subawards. However, these will be awarded as loans and not subgrants. Outcomes: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.