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

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 awarded the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) a $1.92 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) capitalization grant (CFDA 66.458) effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2030. This formula grant funds KDHE's establishment and administration of a long-term, self-sustaining financing mechanism that provides low-interest loans and grants to municipalities and local government entities for water quality improvement projects. The award specifically prioritizes addressing emerging contaminants—including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, pesticides, microplastics, and other substances or microorganisms that pose identified or re-emerging risks to human health and aquatic environments.

Under this capitalization grant, KDHE will finance the planning, design, and construction of eligible water infrastructure projects consistent with Section 603(c) of the Clean Water Act. A sub-award to the City of Olathe Public Works (awarded October 28, 2025) demonstrates program deployment, funding a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) remediation project. The anticipated deliverables include comprehensive financing, planning, and construction of water quality protection initiatives with statewide benefits to Kansas citizens, with outcomes focused on improving and protecting water quality with emphasis on emerging contaminant mitigation.

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. 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:subawards are included in this assistance agreement as loans and grants.outcomes: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.