EPA Awards $200 Million to Install PFAS Water Filtration Systems in 150 Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the distribution of $200 million in non-repayable grant awards through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities program, funding the immediate installation of advanced PFAS water filtration systems across 150 rural municipal utilities and tribal nations in 28 states.

Protecting Rural Tap Water from Forever Chemicals

The funding packages provide up to $2 million per water utility to install granular activated carbon (GAC) contactor vessels, ion-exchange resin systems, and high-recovery reverse osmosis membranes to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to non-detectable levels. The funding assists small water systems in achieving early compliance with federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS without increasing residential monthly water rates.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan stated that every community, regardless of size or tax base, deserves tap water that is clean and free of toxic forever chemicals.

Rural Water Associations and Tribal Health Leaders Praise

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) commended the 100% grant structure, noting that small rural towns with populations under 10,000 lacked the bonding capacity to finance multi-million dollar filtration systems.

Tribal environmental directors celebrated the direct funding to safeguard reservation groundwater aquifers.

Construction Rollout Schedule

Water filtration engineering packages will begin arriving at municipal water treatment plants in autumn 2026.