Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants

On November 15, 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was established. As a part of this law, the State of Utah Division of Drinking Water (the Division) will be receiving approximately $7.5 million per year for the next five years specifically to fund projects that address Emerging Contaminants. These funds will be dispersed through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) as forgivable loans and grants, and at least 25 percent of the funding is specifically allocated for disadvantaged communities or public water systems serving fewer than 25,000 people.

For the purposes of this funding, Emerging Contaminants are defined as any contaminant that has appeared on an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) and that is not yet regulated. This includes the following: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), algal toxins, manganese, and unregulated disinfection by-products, among other chemicals.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for Utah’s water systems to proactively address contaminants before they become regulated and to increase system resilience into the future. We strongly encourage water systems to consider applying for this funding. If a project scope includes items not specifically related to addressing an emerging contaminant, these items may not be covered by Emerging Contaminant funding but may be eligible for other DWSRF funding.

The Division needs cost estimates from all public water systems that may have projects that would qualify for Emerging Contaminants funding. To help us identify the amount of funding that all public water systems may need, we are asking you to submit an estimate of your costs by filling out our short online form by May 27, 2022. The form is non-binding, so we highly recommend getting your system on the list. If you aren’t on the list, it may be difficult to get funding later.

If you have questions about a project that you think might qualify for this funding or questions in general about emerging contaminants, please contact Sarah Page at sepage@utah.gov.

Thank you,

Tim Davis, Director

Utah Division of Drinking Water