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

This $8.4 million formula grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) capitalizes Alaska's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The DWSRF provides low-interest financing for drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health. The bulk of funding will be used for loans to public water systems for eligible projects like improving treatment facilities, repairing distribution pipes, upgrading water sources, and constructing storage tanks. Some funds may also support set-asides for technical assistance to small systems, administration, and program management. One $125,111 subaward to Alpat Water Utility LLC will fund a manganese removal study. By financing infrastructure improvements, this grant aims to increase the technical, financial, and managerial capacity of water providers statewide and ensure a safer drinking water supply for Alaskans.

This agreement will provide funds 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:subawards include loans under the drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF). The full amount of subaward is applied to the DWSRF loan fund, no subgrants are proposed.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.