WIIN Act Section 2105: Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Tribal Grant Program
- Background
- Eligible Applicants
- Eligible Projects
- How to Apply
- Historical Funding
- Additional Resources
Background
The Tribal grant program supports projects and activities that will meaningfully reduce lead concentration in drinking water, including replacement of lead service lines and use of corrosion control.
The program is designed to facilitate reducing lead in drinking water in disadvantaged communities through infrastructure and/or treatment improvements or facility remediation in schools and child care facilities. The goal of these projects is to address conditions that contribute to increased concentrations of lead in drinking water.
Priority areas identified in this announcement are for: (1) Reduction of Lead Exposure in the Nation’s Drinking Water Systems through Infrastructure and Treatment Improvements and (2) Reduction of Children’s Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Child Care Facilities. A key priority for the agency is assisting drinking water systems, schools, child care facilities, and communities nationwide to minimize sources of lead in drinking water.
Eligible Applicants
This grant program makes assistance available to public water systems that serve tribal communities.
Eligible Projects
Assistance under this program will support projects or activities that address lead reduction in tribal public water systems. Projects that receive assistance under this program may include:
- Replacement of publicly owned lead service lines,
- Testing, planning or other relevant activities to identify and address conditions that contribute to increased concentration of lead in drinking water, or
- Assistance to low-income home owners to replace privately owned lead service lines.
Funding under this program cannot be used for partial lead service line replacement.
The proposed projects support the Agency’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2026, Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities, Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water Infrastructure. The EPA’s Strategic Plan is available at https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan
How to Apply
EPA Regions will coordinate with stakeholders and eligible beneficiaries to identify eligible projects to fund.
Historical Funding
For FY18 through FY20, the Agency established interagency agreements through Indian Health Service for projects in in tribal communities to help build drinking water systems to improve water access and water quality for the following areas:
- Quapaw Nation
- Chickasaw Nation
- Big Valley Rancheria
- Mekoryuk
These grants illustrate the potential for EPA’s water infrastructure programs to benefit communities, especially low-income communities where investment is needed the most. Through strong partnerships at the state and local level, water infrastructure investments can provide vital public health and environmental protections. The Agency anticipates continuing the prioritization of improved public health by providing vital drinking water infrastructure in tribal communities across the country, in collaboration with Federal partners.
| Tribal Community/Nation | EPA Region | Fiscal Year(s) | Project Description | Award Amount |
| Quapaw Nation | 6 | FY18, FY19 and FY20 | Community water system improvements for assistance with sampling individual wells for contamination due to lead. The project will benefit 109 Indian-owned homes with estimated population of 382 people. | $620,000 |
| Quapaw Nation | 6 | FY18, FY19 and FY20 | Improvements to the community water system. Includes the construction of a new water line extension. | $367,000 |
| Chickasaw Nation | 6 | FY18, FY19 and FY20 | Water Treatment and distribution system improvements. | $1,848,516 |
| Big Valley Rancheria | 9 | FY19 | Installation of a new treatment plant to treat highly corrosive water and significant amounts of iron and manganese. | $100,000 |
| Mekoryuk | 10 | FY20 | Replace copper pipe in the water treatment plant with plastic pipe. | $64,483 |
| Fort Yukon | 10 | FY21 | Install corrosion control in the water treatment plant. | $93,480 |
| Rampart | 10 | FY21 | Install corrosion control in the water treatment plant. | $93,480 |
Additional Resources
- Tribal Consultation Summary
- EPA Headquarters Program Contact: Laura Montoya, montoya.laura@epa.gov
- EPA Regional Contacts: Tribal Drinking Water Coordinators