The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced $9.457 million in grant funding for Guam to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in the island's drinking water systems.
The funding comes through the EPA's Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program, a $1 billion national investment designed to help communities test, plan and build infrastructure to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, as well as other contaminants such as manganese, perchlorate and 1,4-dioxane.
"With this investment, EPA is demonstrating our commitment to the goal of every American having safe drinking water," said Acting EPA Pacific Southwest Region Administrator Michael Martucci. "Providing funding, affordable financing, and technical assistance to help Guam communities get PFAS out of drinking water will bring lasting positive impacts where they are needed most."
The funding is available to communities, drinking water systems and private well owners on Guam. EPA said the program has made $5 billion in total EC-SDC funding available over five years nationally, with more than $6.5 billion in additional low-interest financing available through its Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program.
EPA also announced a new initiative called PFAS OUT, designed to proactively work with small, rural and disadvantaged water systems to reduce exposure to two specific PFAS compounds — PFOA and PFOS — while helping communities come into compliance with federal drinking water standards.
More information on the grant program is available at epa.gov.