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 (DWSRF) program

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services a capitalization grant of $29.88 million under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program (CFDA 66.468), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2032. This award, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), enables the recipient to establish a low-interest financing mechanism for public water systems throughout New Hampshire to support planning, design, and construction of eligible drinking water infrastructure improvements. The grant furthers public health protection objectives under the Safe Drinking Water Act by providing below-market-rate financing to eligible public water systems and supporting set-aside activities including technical assistance to small systems, operator certification programs, and source water protection initiatives.

The DWSRF capitalization grant will finance public health-related drinking water projects while building the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of participating water systems. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has designated subawards to support asset management and strategic planning, regulatory functions related to groundwater permitting, leak detection services, and water audits. Sub-grantee activities include infrastructure improvements such as water main and service line replacements; for example, the Town of Ashland received funding effective April 15, 2026, for water main, service line, and system appurtenance replacements including Thompson Street and Winona Road projects. The anticipated deliverables encompass financing structures, planning and design services, construction support, and enhanced system capacity, with intended beneficiaries encompassing citizens throughout New Hampshire.

The award furthers the public health protection objectives of the safe drinking water act (SDWA). 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:NH DES intends on utilizing subawards to fund grant programs, which support asset management and strategic planning, performance of regulatory functions related to new well and large groundwater withdrawal permitting, a highly successful leak detection contractor, and a contracting service for water audits.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing, planning, design, and construction of eligible 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.