The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1459F authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program. This grant program assists medium and large size public water systems with protecting drinking water sources from natural hazards, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity threats.

National Priority Areas

• National Priority Area 1: Midsize Community Infrastructure Investments for Drinking Water System Resilience
• National Priority Area 2: Large Community Infrastructure Investments for Drinking Water System Resilience

Funding Information 

• It is anticipated that up to 6 award(s) will be made under this announcement. Awards are expected to be between $1,187,500 and $2,375,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have a one to four year project period.
• The EPA anticipates awarding approximately four assistance agreements under National Priority Area 1, ranging from approximately $1,000,000 to no more than $1,187,500. It is anticipated that the total  amount of all awards under National Priority Area 1 will be approximately $4,750,000 in federal funds, with project periods of one to four years, depending on the amount requested and the overall size andscope of the project(s).
• The EPA anticipates awarding approximately two assistance agreements under National Priority Area 2 ranging from approximately $2,000,000 to no more than $2,375,000. It is anticipated that the total amount of all awards under National Priority Area 2 will be approximately $4,750,000 in federal funds, with project periods of one to four years, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project(s).

Eligible Activities 

• Examples of Eligible Activities for both National Priority Areas
• Examples of eligible activities under various types of natural hazards, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Multiple Threats
  • Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
  • Flooding
  • Earthquake
  • Drought
  • Wildfire
  • Tornado
  • Extreme Weather Events

Eligibility Criteria 

• Only these types of organizations may apply:
  • A public water system that serves a community with a population of 10,000 or more.  The Safe Drinking Water Act 42 USC Section 300f(4)(A) defines a public water system as, “a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twentyfive individuals. Such term includes any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system.”
• Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered eligible: Applicants must demonstrate in their application how they will meet the minimum cost share requirement of 10% of the total project cost (federal plus non-federal match) for the project. Applications must include a description of the natural hazard risk(s), extreme weather event(s), or potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities to be addressed by the proposed program or project.
• Applications must include documentation prepared by a Federal, State, regional, or local government agency of the natural hazard risk, risk for extreme weather events, or potential cybersecurity vulnerability to the area where the proposed program or project is to be located.
• Applications must include a description and the date(s) of any recent natural hazards, extreme weather events, or cybersecurity events that have affected the water system. Applicants that have not experienced a recent natural hazard, extreme weather event, or cybersecurity event must indicate that in the application and may describe, if applicable, their assessment of potential future risks of natural hazards, extreme weather events, or cybersecurity events, that may affect the water system.
• Applications must include a description of how the proposed program or project would
• improve the performance of the public water system under the anticipated natural hazards, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
• Applications must include an explanation of how the proposed program or project is expected to enhance the resilience of the public water system to the anticipated natural hazards or extreme weather events, or to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360232