Sponsors (6)
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Creates a new grant program under the Safe Drinking Water Act to fund projects that reduce nitrate or arsenic in drinking water. The program pays for eligible recipients to plan and carry out projects that address contamination, requires applicants to identify contaminant sources and how projects will reduce contamination, and gives funding priority to disadvantaged communities and sites that serve children. The program limits how much grantees can spend on administration and authorizes appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2026. Local governments, community water systems, and communities with contaminated wells or treatment needs are the primary beneficiaries, while applicants must document contaminant sources and expected reductions to qualify for priority funding.
Defines “arsenic reduction project” as a project whose main purpose is to reduce arsenic concentration in water for human consumption.
Defines “nitrate reduction project” as a project whose main purpose is to reduce nitrate concentration in water for human consumption.
Defines “eligible entity” to include: (A) community water systems; (B) nontransient noncommunity water systems; (C) qualified nonprofit organizations with experience in nitrate or arsenic reduction (as determined by the Administrator); and (D) municipalities or State, interstate, or intermunicipal agencies, including special-purpose local government units.
Defines “nontransient noncommunity water system” as a noncommunity system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons for 6 months or more per year.
Defines “low-income” for purposes of subsection (b)(4) as the meaning provided by the Governor of the State, based on the State affordability criteria established under section 1452(d)(3).
Primary beneficiaries will be communities and households facing nitrate or arsenic contamination in drinking water — especially disadvantaged and underserved communities and locations serving children (schools, child-care centers). Local governments, Tribal governments, community water systems, and nonprofit or regional entities that operate or support drinking water infrastructure will be eligible to apply for grants to plan and build projects such as treatment upgrades, well replacement, system consolidation, and source-control measures.
Applicants must invest staff time and resources to identify contaminant sources and to document how proposed projects will reduce contaminant levels, which increases upfront planning demands but improves the likelihood of effective, measurable outcomes. The administrative-spending cap reduces overhead funding for grant recipients, directing more dollars to capital and direct remediation work; it may require recipients to seek other funds for program administration.
The authorization beginning in FY2026 means the program is intended to start in that fiscal year, but actual grants depend on Congress providing appropriations. EPA (or the designated implementing agency) would administer the program, develop application guidance, and apply the statutory priorities when awarding grants. Over time, the program could reduce public-health risks from nitrate and arsenic, improve water quality in prioritized communities, and support infrastructure upgrades, but the pace and scope of impact will depend on appropriations levels and administrative capacity at state and local levels.
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Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Norma Judith Torres · Last progress April 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House