Federal Grant Award Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded $31.12 million to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services on October 1, 2025, under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program (CFDA 66.468). This capitalization grant, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, enables SCDES to provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure improvement projects. The award supports the public health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act through a revolving loan mechanism designed to address critical water quality infrastructure needs across the state.

SCDES will utilize the funding through several key activities, with approximately $30.41 million allocated to administering loans for eligible drinking water projects. Additional set-aside funding supports technical assistance to small water systems ($200,000), total maximum daily load development ($350,000), and program management and training support ($100,000). The anticipated deliverables include financing, planning, design, and construction of public health-related drinking water infrastructure projects, with expected outcomes focused on increasing the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems and protecting public health for South Carolina citizens. The grant period extends through September 30, 2032.