1. Funding for States to Support Lead Service Line Replacements and Addressing Emerging Contaminants. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)—a federal-state partnership between EPA and states—can help communities improve their drinking water infrastructure by replacing lead service lines (LSLs) and reducing exposure to emerging contaminants, including PFAS. The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides $15 billion in funding specifically for replacing LSLs and $4 billion to address emerging contaminants in drinking water. IIJA provides an additional $11.7 billion in general-purpose funding through the DWSRF, which can also be used for lead pipe replacement, emerging contaminants, or other drinking water infrastructure projects. This presentation will provide an overview of the DWSRF, discuss borrower and project eligibilities for LSL identification and replacement, and cover eligibilities for emerging contaminants in drinking water.
Keelan Baldwin, EPA Office of Water
Keelan is a physical scientist with EPA’s Office of Water (OW), Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW). She serves on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Team, where she assists with lead service line replacements and emerging contaminants under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act. Previously, Keelan worked with EPA as an ORISE research participant.
2. Grant Funding for Public Water Systems to Address Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities. The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant program appropriated $5 billion of non-competitive funding awards over five years for states, territories, and Tribes to improve drinking water quality. The grants empower them to better support their eligible communities in addressing emerging contaminants, including PFAS. This presentation will provide an overview of the EC-SDC grant program, including project and community eligibilities and examples.
Lida Daly, EPA Office of Water
Lida is with EPA’s OW, OGWDW where she leads the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program for states and territories. Prior to joining EPA, she worked at the United States Peace Corps Headquarters and previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer (PCV) in the Kyrgyz Republic working with rural women and sustainable community development. As a PCV, Lida led a grant-funded drip irrigation project supporting rural farmers, which fueled her passion to ensure that communities have access to water.
