This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state of new jersey to implement resources and priorities to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl…

EPA Region 2 awarded the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection $33.509 million on July 1, 2026, under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program (CFDA 66.442) to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminants in drinking water.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will implement planning and design projects, treatment systems for emerging contaminants including PFAS and 1,4-dioxane, technical assistance, public outreach and education, workforce training support, private wells activities, and source water protection measures targeting small and disadvantaged communities. Activities include research and testing, water system restructuring, storage improvements, and efforts to provide household access to drinking water services and water quality testing.

The department will pass subawards to eligible communities to carry out planning, design, and construction activities for treatment of emerging contaminants in their drinking water systems and to support compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The award period runs through June 30, 2031, with work performed across New Jersey.

This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state of new jersey to implement resources and priorities to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminant challenges. New jersey department of environmental protection will implement projects such as planning and design to address emerging contaminant(s), treatment of emerging contaminant(s), technical assistance, public communication, engagement, and education, and private wells activities with the use of this award funding. Activities:the activities include projects and activities to address emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities, including but not limited to research and testing; planning and design to address emerging contaminates; treatment of emerging contaminants; source water activities related to emerging contaminants; storage; water system restructuring; providing households access to drinking water services; technical assistance; outreach and education; and workforce or training support to public water systems in addressing emerging contaminants. Subrecipient:subawards will be made to eligible communities to carry out necessary activities to reduce emerging contaminants in their drinking water. Activities include planning and designing, construction costs for treatment of emerging contaminants such as PFAS or 1,4-dioxane.outcomes:this agreement is to an eligible state or territory to implement a program to provide assistance to address emerging contaminants in drinking water to small or disadvantaged communities. Funds are to carry out projects and activities needed for public water systems to comply with the safe drinking water act, programs to provide household water quality testing, activities for a state to respond to a drinking water contaminants, and activities that benefit the impacted communities. The anticipated deliverables include but are not limited to, the following: - identify and evaluate small systems and medium and large surface water systems serving disadvantaged communities that have elevated levels of PFAS, 1,4-dioxane or other emerging contaminants. - sub-award grants to fund planning and design activities, including preparation of preliminary engineering reports, action plans, design plans, conduct new source exploration, water system consolidation assessments, energy efficiency analyses, and other pre-project activities. - sub-award grants to fund construction activities including PFAS or 1,4-dioxane treatment installation through building of new treatment facilities, upgrades to existing treatment facilities, protection measures against emerging contaminants in source waters, or to develop a new source. - utilize a portion of the grant to support private wells work including initial and post-remediation PFAS testing, treatment of PFAS-contaminated private wells, or to connect homes to a public water system. Funds will either be direct reimbursement to private well-owners or to be used by njdep to contract a third-party vendor for installation services. - establish a contract with a third-party technical assistance provider. - conduct public outreach and engagement. - support capacity building, operator training, and post-construction on-site activities. The expected outcomes include but are not limited to, the following: - reduction in the number of public water systems serving small or disadvantaged communities that are out of compliance due to PFAS standards - reduction in the number of public water systems serving small or disadvantaged communities that are out of compliance with health based drinking water standards - increase in community engagement among small and disadvantaged communities - improved education for water system owners and operators - reduction in the number of private wells with PFAS contamination the intended beneficiaries include residents in small and/or disadvantaged c