Federal Grant Award Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $12.861 million to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 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 (IIJA), provides low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure projects, with a specific focus on addressing emerging contaminants—particularly perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The award supports public health protection objectives mandated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will distribute approximately $12.089 million in subawards to public water systems and eligible recipients based on the state-approved project list. Key deliverables include financing, planning, designing, and constructing lead service line replacement projects and related activities, with anticipated outcomes focused on increasing the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems. Additionally, the state will utilize set-aside funding to provide technical assistance to small water systems for operator certification and source water protection activities. The intended beneficiaries are citizens throughout Tennessee, with grant activities extending through September 30, 2032.