This agreement provides a capitalization grant, funded by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58), for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund program (dwsrf)

This Federal Formula Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.468) provides $97,636,000.00 in funding to the State of California Water Resources Control Board. The award is for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure projects focused on addressing emerging contaminants, with a particular emphasis on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The recipient will use the funds to offer low-interest financing to eligible public water systems for these projects, which aim to protect public health and water quality across California. Additionally, the funding supports technical assistance to small water systems, operator certification activities, and source water protection initiatives. The award period runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.

These funds are for dwsrf-eligible projects that address emerging contaminants in drinking water with a focus on projects addressing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The award furthers the public health protection objectives of the safe drinking water act (sdwa). As part of its grant application, the california state water resources control board provided a request and all the necessary documentation to transfer the full clean water emerging contaminants allotment to the drinking water emerging contaminants fund. The CW emerging contaminant funds of $15,208,000 were awarded as EPA in-kind in grant number 4X-97T11901 and are now awarded to california in this, the DW emerging contaminants grant. The california state water resources control board will provide the funds in california entirely as additional subsidy, consistent with the law, to protect water quality and public health in california and to vitalize the economy through the creation of jobs. This process satisfies the statutory requirement that the cwsrf award be made prior to the funds transfer. This assistance agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $97,636,000.00. Pre-award costs are approved back to july 1, 2024. Activities:the recipient of these funds will provide low-interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for the costs associated with the planning, design, and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects. The recipient may also use some of the funding for specific set-asides, including but not limited to providing technical assistance to small systems, for operator certification activities, and source water protection activities. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing, planning, design, and construction of eligible emerging contaminant-focused, public health-related projects. Deliverables will also be used to increase the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems. The expected outcome is public health protection. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.