NEW JERSEY — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced more than $33.6 million in federal funding for New Jersey projects aimed at addressing PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water systems.
The funding is part of the EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program, which supports testing, planning and infrastructure improvements for communities facing contamination concerns.
“Everyone in New Jersey deserves confidence that the water coming from their tap is safe,” EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci said. “This funding gives New Jersey communities more tools to test for PFAS and other emerging contaminants, plan for long-term solutions and make the infrastructure upgrades needed to protect public health.”
According to the EPA, New Jersey will receive $33,626,000 through the program to assist communities, drinking water systems and private well owners dealing with PFAS and other contaminants included on the agency’s Contaminant Candidate Lists, including manganese, perchlorate and 1,4-dioxane.
PFAS, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals linked to health and environmental concerns.
The EPA said the funding is part of a broader national effort that has made $5 billion available through the grant program over five years. The agency also noted more than $6.5 billion in low-interest financing remains available through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program for PFAS-related projects.
Federal officials said the funding will help communities lower treatment costs, improve water-system decision-making and support the development of new treatment and disposal technologies.
The EPA also highlighted its PFAS OUTreach initiative, known as PFAS OUT, which works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to chemicals including perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, in drinking water.
According to the agency, the initiative is intended to assist small, rural and disadvantaged communities that may lack resources to address contamination concerns.
The EPA said its broader PFAS strategy also includes proposed federal drinking water rules and efforts to reduce PFAS contamination before it enters the environment.
