The purpose of this agreement is for a capitalization grant which provides funds for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf) program with the primary purpose to address emerging…

This $7.555 million Formula Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program will capitalize Maine's DWSRF to address emerging contaminants in drinking water, focusing on projects for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFAs). The July 1, 2022 award to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services will fund the DWSRF through June 30, 2029.

The DWSRF capitalization will increase technical, financial, and managerial capacity for public water systems. It will also help assure safer drinking water by funding infrastructure improvements. Specifically, the grant will provide funds for engineering design related to emerging contaminants and small public water system projects for emerging contaminants. This aims to benefit public health across Maine.

The purpose of this agreement is for a capitalization grant which provides funds for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf) program with the primary purpose to address emerging contaminants in drinking water with a focus on projects addressing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 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:section 1452 of the safe drinking water act (sdwa) authorizes the state to utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of sdwa. The state has submitted an intended use plan (IUP) as part of the application package for this capitalization grant . This IUP contains a list of the capital projects that address emerging contaminants that may receive funding from this grant. 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:funding will be provided through grants for engineering design for emerging contaminants and small public water system emerging contaminant projects. Outcomes:the benefits of this grant will be to capitalize the recipient's dwsrf with primary purpose to address emerging contaminants in drinking water with a focus on projects addressing PFAS. 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.