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

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 awarded a $39.1 million Formula Grant to the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program (CFDA #66.468). The grant capitalizes Colorado's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to provide low-interest financing from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2028 for drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health. Eligible projects include improving treatment facilities, replacing aging pipes, upgrading water sources, and constructing storage tanks. The state agency may also use some funding for technical assistance to small systems and program administration. The grant is expected to increase technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems statewide. Two sub-awards totaling less than $100,000 were provided to the cities of Ouray and Buena Vista for water treatment plant upgrades.

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.