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

This $19.7 million formula grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) capitalizes the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund administered by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. The funding will be used to provide low-interest financing for drinking water infrastructure projects that improve public health across Nebraska from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2027.

Eligible drinking water projects include improving treatment facilities, replacing aging pipes, upgrading water sources, constructing storage tanks, and other infrastructure essential to delivering safe drinking water. The state may also use some of the funding for set-asides that provide technical assistance to small water systems and support program administration. Additionally, a loan under the grant was issued to the city of Ainsworth for their drinking water infrastructure projects. The long-term financing made available through Nebraska's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund capitalization will help water systems expand access to clean drinking water and protect public health.

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:communities receiving subawards or loans will upgrade water treatment facilities.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.