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 a $9.719 million capitalization grant to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program (CFDA 66.458) effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2029. This formula grant, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), establishes low-interest financing mechanisms to support water quality improvement projects with a primary focus on addressing emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics.

Through this award, the TWDB will administer the state revolving fund to provide low-interest loans to municipalities and local government entities for planning, design, and construction of eligible water infrastructure projects. These subrecipients will utilize the financing to implement direct infrastructure improvements that address emerging contaminants and enhance overall water quality protection. The anticipated outcomes include completion of financing, planning, and construction activities for water quality improvement and protection projects, with primary beneficiaries being citizens throughout Texas. The fund operates as a self-sustaining mechanism whereby loan repayments generate continued funding availability for future eligible water quality projects.

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. This project is funded under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA).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.