This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state/territory of U.S. Virgin islands to implement resources and priorities to help address per- and…

Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 awarded $9.457 million to the Executive Office of the Government of the Virgin Islands, Department of Planning & Natural Resources, on October 1, 2025, under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program (CFDA 66.442).

The recipient will implement projects to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in drinking water serving small or disadvantaged communities across the U.S. Virgin Islands. Funded activities include testing for emerging contaminants, planning and design to address treatment, construction and operation of treatment systems, source water protection activities, water system restructuring, household access to drinking water services, technical assistance to public water systems, public communication and education, and workforce training support. The award carries a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2032.

The recipient will make subawards to eligible communities to conduct planning, design, and construction of treatment systems targeting emerging contaminants such as PFAS. The program aims to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and to bring safe, adequate water to communities most in need of assistance.

This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to the state/territory of U.S. Virgin islands to implement resources and priorities to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminant challenges and target resources to communities most in need of assistance to ensure that no community is left behind with unsafe, inadequate water. The U.S. Virgin islands will implement projects such as testing for emerging contaminants, planning and design to address emerging contaminant(S), treatment of emerging contaminant(S), and public communication, engagement, and education 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, and construction costs for treatment of emerging contaminants such as PFAS.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 the following: - sampling and analysis for PFAS at all small public water systems in both the ST. Croix and ST. Thomas districts. - planning and designing activities for systems that detected PFAS exceedances. Vidpnr or an approved contractor to the PWS will provide the engineering support. - sub-award grants to eligible public water systems to address PFAS issues by funding planning and design activities and/or construction activities such as installation of remediation treatment technology. The expected outcomes include the following: - increase in available data on the presence and levels of PFAS in the U.S. Virgin islands. - increase in public awareness of systems with PFAS contamination, the health effects of PFAS exposure, and water system steps for remediation. - reduction in the number of public water systems that are out of compliance with PFAS maximum contaminant level (MCL). - reduction in exposure to PFAS for the residents of the U.S. Virgin islands. The intended beneficiaries include residents in the U.S. Virgin islands. Direct beneficiaries of this program include all state residents and occupants, both permanent and temporary.