Section 1452 of the safe drinking water act (sdwa) authorizes the state to utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of sdwa

This agreement will provide funds, authorized by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) (commonly referred to as the bipartisan infrastructure law), to capitalize maryland department of the environment's (MDE) drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf), which will provide low interest financing 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. Activities:the bulk of the dwsrf will be used for loans and other authorized assistance to public water systems for eligible projects, including improving drinking water treatment, fixing leaky or old pipes (water distribution), improving sources 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.subrecipient:set-asides subawards include $334,100 to maryland rural water association (mrwa), $342,625 to county delegation agreements, $6,500 to interstate commission on the potomac river basin (icprb), $62,000 to maryland center for environmental training (mcet), $25,000 to chesapeake BAY trust internship, and $100,000 to a university legionella study.outcomes:the benefit 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 and safer potable water supply by funding improvements to multiple water infrastructure projects. These public health benefits accrue to the citizens of the state of maryland.