This agreement funds a capitalization grant for the recipient's clean water state revolving fund (cwsrf) program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) a $1,043,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.458) capitalization grant under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The primary purpose of this Formula Grant is to address emerging contaminants in water systems across the state. The grant funds will enable NDDEQ to provide low-interest loans to numerous subrecipient communities for planning, designing, and constructing water quality improvement and protection projects focused on emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics. The anticipated deliverables include financing these critical water infrastructure initiatives, with the expected outcomes of improving and protecting water quality for the benefit of all North Dakota citizens.

Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or RE-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment. These substances, microorganisms or materials can include many different types of natural or manufactured chemicals and substances - such as those in some compounds of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. This project is funded under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA). Activities:the recipients of these funds will provide low interest financing to numerous subrecipients for costs eligible under section 603(c) of the clean water act, with the primary purpose of addressing emerging contaminants.subrecipient:this grant agreement capitalizes the state SRF program, allowing the state SRF program to make loans (subawards) to communities for infrastructure improvements.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing planning, design, and construction of eligible water quality improvement and protection projects. The expected outcomes are to improve and protect water quality with an emphasis on emerging contaminants. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.