Formula Grant 97T10201

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO IMPLEMENT RESOURCES AND PRIORITIES TO HELP ADDRESS PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) AND EMERGING CONTAMINANT CHALLENGES; TARGET RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT NO COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEHIND WITH UNSAFE, INADEQUATE WATER; AND ADVANCE THE PRIORITIES OF EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. ARIZONA WILL USE THESE FUNDS TO CONTINUE SAMPLING FOR EMERGING CONTAMINANTS, PLAN AND DESIGN OF TREATMENT SOLUTIONS, TRAIN WATER OPERATORS ON PFAS, ENGAGE WITH PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES AROUND PFAS-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS. THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FULL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,385,000. SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN SMALL OR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RESEARCH AND TESTING; PLANNING AND DESIGN TO ADDRESS EMERGING CONTAMINATES; TREATMENT OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS; WATER SYSTEM RESTRUCTURING; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; OUTREACH AND EDUCATION; AND WORKFORCE OR TRAINING SUPPORT TO PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS IN ADDRESSING EMERGING CONTAMINANTS WHICH COMPLY WITH THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT. SUBRECIPIENT:THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AUTHORITY OF ARIZONA WILL SUBAWARD FUNDS TO ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO CARRYOUT ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS UNDER THIS GRANT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE EMERGING CONTAMINANT (PFAS, MANGANESE, 1,4-DIOXANE) SAMPLING RESULTS, IDENTIFICATION OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS WITH PFAS MCL EXCEEDANCES (CURRENTLY 81 SYSTEMS IDENTIFIED), DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS AND DESIGNS FOR EMERGING CONTAMINANT MITIGATION AND TREATMENT SOLUTIONS, TRAINING WATER OPERATORS ON PFAS SAMPLING AND TREATMENT OPTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR BENEFIT OF THE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE CHARACTERIZING THE OCCURRENCE OF PFAS AND OTHER EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER, TARGETING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS WITH THE MOST SEVERE CONTAMINATION FOR TREATMENT AND MITIGATION, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AROUND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PFAS IN DRINKING WATER BEING CARRIED OUT PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS AND THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND CERTIFIED WATER OPERATORS WHO ARE TRAINED ON THE NEWLY PROMULGATED PFAS REGULATION AND REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS THE CONTAMINATION. THESE OUTPUTS DIRECTLY HELP TO REDUCE PFAS AND OTHER EMERGING CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER AND IMPROVE WATER SYSTEM COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW PFAS REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE ALL STATE RESIDENTS AND OCCUPANTS, BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY.