Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant

The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as part of a broader national effort funded through federal infrastructure legislation. The program is supported by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which supplements Environmental Protection Agency water programs authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The initiative is specifically designed to assist communities that face financial or technical barriers in addressing contamination issues in drinking water systems, particularly emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide financial assistance to public water systems that serve small or disadvantaged communities. These communities often lack the resources to adequately identify, test for, and remediate emerging contaminants in their drinking water supply. The program prioritizes improving public health outcomes by ensuring access to safe drinking water and supporting compliance with evolving regulatory standards related to contaminants that may not yet be fully regulated. Eligible uses of funds under this program are broad and include a range of activities aimed at addressing contamination challenges. These activities may involve technical assistance to assess contamination issues, direct efforts to remove or mitigate contaminants, and the development of programs that provide household-level water quality testing. Additional allowable uses include training for local contractors and other workforce development activities necessary to build local capacity. States may also fund any actions deemed necessary and appropriate to respond effectively to emerging contaminant threats within eligible communities. Eligibility for this grant is limited to projects that benefit small or disadvantaged communities as defined under Section 1459A of the Safe Drinking Water Act. A disadvantaged community is determined by the state based on affordability criteria established under federal law, while a small community is defined as one with a population of fewer than ten thousand individuals that lacks the capacity to incur sufficient debt to finance necessary water infrastructure improvements. These definitions allow for flexibility at the state level while maintaining a clear federal framework for qualification. The application process for this grant operates on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed deadline for submission and applications are accepted continuously. Similarly, notification of funding decisions is also conducted on a rolling basis. Applicants are expected to coordinate directly with the administering agency and submit required documentation demonstrating eligibility, project scope, and anticipated benefits to the target community. While specific application components are not detailed, applicants should be prepared to provide sufficient technical and financial information to support project evaluation. There are no explicitly stated grant limitations or funding caps provided in the available information, and no matching requirement is specified. Contact for further information is provided through a designated program representative at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The absence of a fixed funding cycle and the continuous intake of applications indicate that this program is intended to remain active as long as federal funding remains available, making it an ongoing opportunity for eligible entities to address critical drinking water challenges.