This agreement funds a capitalization grant for the recipient's clean water state revolving fund program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants

FEDERAL GRANT AWARD SUMMARY

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded $1.735 million to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on October 1, 2025, under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program (CFDA 66.458). This capitalization grant funds Maine's CWSRF program with a primary focus on addressing emerging contaminants—substances and microorganisms including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics that pose risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment.

Through this award, the recipient will provide low-interest financing to municipalities and utilities for eligible water quality improvement projects under Section 603(c) of the Clean Water Act, with emphasis on emerging contaminant remediation. Deliverables include financing for planning, design, and construction of water infrastructure projects that improve and protect water quality throughout Maine. The grant operates on a seven-year performance period through September 30, 2032, establishing a self-sustaining financing mechanism whereby loan repayments generate continued funding availability for future water quality protection initiatives benefiting Maine citizens.

Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or RE-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment. These substances, microorganisms or materials can include many different types of natural or manufactured chemicals and substances - such as those in some compounds of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics.activities:the recipients of these funds will provide low interest financing to numerous subrecipients for costs eligible under section 603(c) of the clean water act, with the primary purpose of addressing emerging contaminants.subrecipient:n/a - all SRF assistance will be provided as loans.outcomes:anticipated deliverables include financing planning, design, and construction of eligible water quality improvement and protection projects. The expected outcomes are to improve and protect water quality with an emphasis on emerging contaminants. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.