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Public Drinking Water Systems Programs
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Public Water System Supervision (PWSS)
Grant Program

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To help States implement drinking water programs to protect public health, Congress annually provides funds for grants to support state programs.  These grants are used by State drinking water programs to:

  • monitor drinking water quality,
  • conduct sanitary surveys,
  • enforce drinking water standards,
  • and provide technical assistance to local communities.

The grants may be used to provide up to 75% of the state program's costs.  Funds are distributed based on an allotment formula that considers each of the following:

The amount of funding available in FY2004 is $101,994,700.

Background

Beginning in FY1976 EPA has received an appropriation under section 1443(a) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to assist states, territories, and tribes in carrying out their Public Water System Supervision programs. The funds are to be used to develop and implement a PWSS program adequate to enforce the requirements of the SDWA and ensure that water systems comply with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations listed in 40 CRF 141.

Designated state agencies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or an individual Indian tribe treated as a state, that have been delegated Primary Enforcement Responsibility for the Public Water System Supervision Program are eligible to receive grants.

Currently, all states and territories have been delegated authority, with the exception of Wyoming and the District of Columbia (neither of which has sought delegation). The Navajo Nation is the only Indian tribe to have sought and received program authority.

Method of Allotment

Funds appropriated each year are allotted, by formula, on the basis of state population (20%) as contained in the most currently available statistics from the US Census Bureau; state land area (10%) as contained in the most currently available Statistical Abstract; the number of community and non-transient non-community water systems in the state (56%) and the number of transient non-community water systems in the state (14%); all water system inventories being provided by the states to EPA's Federal database SDWIS/FED.

No state except American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands may be allotted less than 1 percent of the FY 89 appropriation and no entity’s allotment shall be less than 95 percent of its prior year allotment.

Up to seven percent of the national total available grant funds are set-aside for Indian land activities in accordance with EPA Grant Regulations (40CFR35.673). The formula factors of population and land area are statutory (SDWA §1443(a)).

The other factors, and all of the weightings, are Agency imposed. Federal assistance is limited to 75 percent of eligible costs, not to exceed the state allotment.

Allotments for FY2004

A total of $101,994,700 is available for FY2004. This amount is based on an appropriation of $102,600,000 and the “across-the-board” recission of 0.59%. $6,564,600 (6.44%) is being used to support PWSS program activities on tribal lands; $95,430,100 is being allotted to states and territories. The allotments range from $124,200 for Guam to $6,198,300 for California. A complete list of the formula allotments is provided below.

FY2004 Formula Grant Allotments

Alabama
$915,900
 
Nebraska
$983,100
Alaska
$2,221,500
Nevada
$811,500
American Samoa
$124,600
New Hampshire
$1,087,500
Arizona
$1,380,100
New Jersey
$2,023,700
Arkansas
$984,200
New Mexico
$1,035,600
California
$6,198,300
New York
$4,873,300
Colorado
$1,490,100
North Carolina
$3,496,200
Connecticut
$1,406,600
North Dakota
$659,100
Delaware
$559,300
Northern Mariana Islands
$171,200
District of Columbia *
$359,800
Ohio
$3,020,200
Florida
$3,845,800
Oklahoma
$1,378,500
Georgia
$2,165,400
Oregon
$1,580,700
Guam
$124,200
Pennsylvania
$4,290,600
Hawaii
$458,600
Puerto Rico
$746,000
Idaho
$1,172,600
Rhode Island
$487,600
Illinois
$3,039,800
South Carolina
$1,078,200
Indiana
$2,017,800
South Dakota
$729,000
Iowa
$1,373,400
Tennessee
$1,080,400
Kansas
$1,121,400
Texas
$5,994,600
Kentucky
$833,700
Utah
$855,300
Louisiana
$1,443,700
Vermont
$764,700
Maine
$932,900
Virgin Islands
$260,900
Maryland
$1,550,600
Virginia
$2,188,800
Massachusetts
$1,135,200
Washington
$2,626,300
Michigan
$4,457,000
West Virginia
$854,600
Minnesota
$2,564,000
Wisconsin
$3,346,300
Mississippi
$1,264,700
Wyoming *
$725,500
Missouri
$1,920,800
Tribal Support Programs **
$6,564,600
Montana
$1,218,700
   
       
*    Have not applied for primary enforcement authority (Primacy) for the PWSS program and, therefore,
      are not eligible for a PWSS grant.
**  Tribal Program Support funds include a Primacy grant of $461,000 to the Navajo Nation, which is the
      only Tribe that currently has primary enforcement authority fo the PWSS Program.

FY 2005 Guidance and Tentative Allotments

Additional Information


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