EPA has announced more than $227 million in funding to help American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The funding will support projects that expand access to safe drinking water, upgrade wastewater systems, and address emerging contaminants.
The Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program funds the planning, design, and construction of wastewater facilities serving federally recognized Tribes. The Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants program supports water system upgrades and other capital improvements in Tribal communities.
Tribal communities can use the funding to construct, rehabilitate, and upgrade water infrastructure. Eligible projects include drinking water improvements, wastewater treatment facilities, lead service line replacement, and PFAS mitigation. The investments will also help communities comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act.
The EPA will distribute the funding through four programs. The package includes $134 million for Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants, $71 million for the Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program, including $4.5 million for emerging contaminants, $19 million through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Tribal Grant Program, and $3 million through the Small, Rural, and Tribal Drinking Water Assistance Grant Program.