This agreement provides a capitalization grant, funded by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58), for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund program (DWSRF)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded the State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality $7.64 million under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.468) Formula Grant, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this capitalization grant supports the state's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program with a focus on addressing emerging contaminants, particularly Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), in drinking water. The state will provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure improvements while also utilizing set-aside funds for technical assistance to small systems, operator certification activities, and source water protection initiatives.

The grant has yielded three sub-awards to date, each targeting specific water quality improvements. The City of Garden City received funding to design and drill a new PFAS-free drinking water well (June 2026); the City of Roberts will construct a new building housing green sand filters and an evaporation pond for manganese removal (May 2026); and the City of Lewiston will decommission well number four and install a carbon dioxide system at its water treatment plant (April 2026). These projects collectively advance public health protection objectives under the Safe Drinking Water Act while increasing the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of Idaho's public water systems.

These funds are for 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:all funding assistance will be provided as loans. 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 public health protection. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.