This action provides funding in the amount of $17,771,000, to south carolina department of environmental services (scdes)

EPA Region 4 awarded $17,771,000 to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services on April 1, 2026, under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (CFDA 66.468) to capitalize the recipient's DWSRF for principal forgiveness loans, negative interest loans, or grants supporting drinking water infrastructure improvements and activities that protect human health.

Eligible projects include improving drinking water treatment, water distribution systems, sources of water supply, replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks, and other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health. Systems damaged by Hurricanes Helene or Milton in 2024 or by the 2023 Hawai'i wildfires are eligible for funding. SCDES may also use a portion of the funding for set-asides to provide technical assistance to small systems, program administration, state program management, and other allowable uses. All projects and set-aside funds must help reduce a system's flood or fire damage risk and vulnerability or enhance resiliency to rapid hydrologic change or natural disasters.

The recipient will make loans and subawards totaling $17,060,160 to support drinking water projects affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton throughout South Carolina. The period of performance runs through March 31, 2033, with place of performance in South Carolina. The award will capitalize the DWSRF to increase technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems and provide assurance of cleaner, safer, and more resilient potable water.

Section 1452 of the safe drinking water act (sdwa) authorizes the state to utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of sdwa. This project funds to capitalize the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf) as principal forgiveness loans, negative interest loans, or grants 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. Systems damaged by the 2024 hurricanes helene or milton or the 2023 hawai'i wildfires are eligible for use of these funds.activities:the dwsrf will be used for financial assistance to public water systems for eligible projects, including improving drinking water treatment, 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. Projects and set-aside funds must help to reduce a system's flood or fire damage risk and vulnerability and/or to enhance resiliency to rapid hydrologic change or natural disasters.subrecipient:loans and/or subawards to be determined for $17,060,160 to support drinking water projects effects by hurricanes helene and milton throughout the state of south carolina.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, safer, and more resilient potable water supply by funding improvements to multiple water infrastructure projects. The funds will assist in rebuilding more resilient water systems following the damage from hurricane helene, hurricane milton, or the 2023 hawai'i wildfires. These public health benefits will be statewide.