This action provides funding in the amount of $ 9,549,000.00, to the south carolina department of environmental services (scdes) to support the drinking water state revolving fund program (dwsrf)

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded $9,549,000 to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services to capitalize its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.468), funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with an award date of October 1, 2025.

SCDES will provide low-interest-rate financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water improvement projects addressing emerging contaminants, with a focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). SCDES may also deploy funding for technical assistance to small systems, operator certification activities, and source water protection activities. The program furthers the Safe Drinking Water Act's public health protection objectives.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2032, with work performed throughout South Carolina.

SCDES passed through $8,361,381 in sub-awards to support technical assistance to small systems, program administration, and state program management. Sub-recipients include the Town of Cheraw (pilot testing of PFAS removal systems at 15,000–22,000 gallons per day capacity), the Commissioners of Public Works of the City of Greenwood (preliminary engineering report evaluating PFAS treatment alternatives), Newberry County Water (pilot testing and design for granular activated carbon treatment), the South Carolina Public Service Authority/Santee Cooper (bench-scale testing and preliminary engineering report for PFAS removal at Lake Marion Regional Water System), Georgetown County Water & Sewer District (engineering and treatment evaluation at Waccamaw Neck Water Treatment Plant), City of Newberry (engineering planning and design including technology evaluation and pilot study), Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission (bench-scale testing of activated carbon and ion exchange alternatives), and Saluda County Water & Sewer Authority (preliminary analysis and engineering reports for PFAS compliance).

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). 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:subawards to be determined in the amount of $8,361,381 to provide technical assistance to small systems, program administration, and state program management to address drinking water projects throughout the state. 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.