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

The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (ND DEQ) received a $19.7 million Formula Grant award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program (CFDA #66.468). The grant capitalizes North Dakota's DWSRF and will be used to provide low-interest financing to public water systems for eligible drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health through March 2029. Specifically, the bulk of funding will be distributed as loans and other assistance to multiple water systems statewide for improving drinking water treatment, repairing or replacing aging pipes, upgrading water sources, constructing or rehabilitating storage tanks, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. ND DEQ may also utilize some of the grant for program set-asides like technical assistance to small systems and program administration. No subawards are associated with this assistance agreement. The projects funded through North Dakota's DWSRF are expected to increase technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems and ensure a cleaner, safer drinking water supply for the state.

This agreement will provide funds, authorized by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58), to capitalize the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF) to 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 SRF 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 source 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:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the benefits 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 will be statewide.