EPA grants Colorado $44.3 million to address “forever chemicals” in drinking water 

Colorado is about to receive a large sum of money – to the tune of $44.3 million – to address PFAS or “forever chemicals” and emerging contaminants in Colorado communities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a statement on Tuesday, May 19.

According to the EPA, the new funding is part of a comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that underscores EPA’s commitment to Making America Healthy Again (MAHA) by ensuring clean water for all.

PFAS are a massive family of synthetically-created “forever chemicals” known for resisting heat, stains, grease and water, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Because PFAS contain incredibly strong carbon-fluorine bonds, they do not break down in the environment or the human body.

EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western weighed in on the announcement.

“EPA is providing federal resources to make practical, durable water solutions a reality,” Western said. “We are directing funding to communities where investments in proven, cost-effective technologies will help utilities meet drinking water standards, protect human health, and deliver results that ratepayers can afford.” 

According to the EPA, the EC-SDC grant program is a $1 billion national investment that helps communities address PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Of the $1 billion investment, Colorado will have access to $44.3 million, which is available for communities, drinking water systems and private well owners to help with testing, planning, and infrastructure projects addressing PFAS and other emerging contaminants included on EPA’s Contaminant Candidate Lists.

“With this grant allotment, the agency has made $5 billion in EC-SDC funding available through this program over five years,” the EPA said. “More than $6.5 billion in low-interest financing is currently available through EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loan program, which can also be used to address PFAS.”

Sustained investment benefits to Colorado communities include:  

• Helps drive down the per-system cost of treatment
• Generates real-world performance data that better informs utility decision-making
• Accelerates innovation in destruction and disposal technologies
• Helps mitigate PFAS across the many forms in which it appears in source water 

The EPA also has a new initiative attempting to accelerate progress in addressing PFAS in drinking water.

PFAS OUTreach — or PFAS OUT — proactively works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water, according to the EPA.  

“Recognizing that small, rural, and disadvantaged water systems often have fewer resources, PFAS OUT is specifically designed to ensure these communities are not left behind,” the EPA said. “PFAS OUT will help every drinking water system dealing with PFOA or PFOS to effectively understand the challenge and reduce exposure as soon as possible while positioning them for successful compliance with enforceable drinking water standards.”

Colorado will be receiving the funds from the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program, EPA said.