Emerging Contaminant Funding Program

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Emerging Contaminant Funding program is administered at the state level through Oregon’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, which operates under the Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services. This funding originates from federal legislation designed to strengthen the nation’s water infrastructure while addressing critical environmental and public health risks. A central focus of this program is the identification, treatment, and mitigation of emerging contaminants in drinking water systems, particularly substances such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, manganese, and cyanotoxins. The program reflects federal priorities to ensure that disadvantaged communities receive equitable access to safe drinking water resources. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support public water systems in addressing confirmed contamination issues through planning, infrastructure development, and system improvements. Funding is structured as a subsidy in the form of principal forgiveness, meaning recipients are not required to repay the awarded funds. The program prioritizes projects that directly respond to documented contamination and requires applicants to demonstrate the presence of an emerging contaminant in their system. A significant portion of funding is reserved for disadvantaged communities and smaller systems, ensuring targeted support for those with limited financial capacity. Eligible project activities under this program include a broad range of infrastructure and preparatory work that directly addresses emerging contaminants. These activities encompass planning and design, pilot testing for treatment solutions, construction or upgrades of treatment facilities, development of new water sources, system consolidation efforts, and public engagement initiatives tied to capital improvement projects. Additional eligible activities include specialized testing and research necessary to establish baseline contamination levels or inform treatment approaches. However, all funded components must be integral to addressing the contaminant of concern, and ancillary or unrelated project elements are not eligible. There are clear restrictions on the use of funds. Projects focused on contaminants that are already regulated under national primary drinking water standards are generally excluded, except in the case of PFAS, which remains eligible regardless of regulatory status. Other ineligible uses include standalone land acquisition, bottled water provision, remediation of groundwater aquifers, and ongoing operations or maintenance costs. These limitations ensure that funding is directed toward capital improvements and long-term infrastructure solutions rather than temporary or unrelated expenditures. Eligibility for this funding is limited to public water systems that can provide verified data confirming the detection of an emerging contaminant. Additional criteria may apply depending on the specific funding stream, such as requirements for serving disadvantaged populations or system size thresholds. Applicants must submit a no-obligation application form through the designated state program website, which initiates the funding consideration process. Supporting documentation demonstrating contamination and project relevance is a critical component of the submission. The application process follows a recurring schedule, with deadlines occurring annually or semiannually depending on the funding category. General supplemental funding requires a letter of interest submission by February 15 each year, while emerging contaminant funding applications are due twice annually on February 15 and August 15. These recurring deadlines indicate an ongoing funding cycle, allowing applicants multiple opportunities to seek support. Funding availability is expected to continue through at least 2026, contingent on federal appropriations. Project evaluation is based on alignment with program priorities, including the extent to which the proposed activities address confirmed contamination, benefit disadvantaged communities, and comply with eligibility requirements. While specific evaluation scoring criteria are not detailed in the provided materials, emphasis is placed on project relevance, feasibility, and documented need. Successful applicants will receive funding support to implement projects within the scope of approved activities, contributing to improved water quality and public health outcomes across Oregon.