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Water Quality Initiatives Focusing on Unseen Pollutants

Aiding indigenous tribes under the Environmental Protection Agency's Pacific Southwest region (Region 9) in managing newly detected pollutants in their drinking water supplies.

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Water Quality Initiatives Focusing on Unseen Pollutants
Water Quality Initiatives Focusing on Unseen Pollutants

Water Quality Initiatives Focusing on Unseen Pollutants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the guidelines for its Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Program for federally recognized Tribes in its Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9) for the FY26 funding cycle. The program aims to assist Tribes in addressing emerging contaminants in drinking water, with approximately $14 million in funds available to support eligible projects. Key Dates

  • Project proposals must be submitted by December 6, 2025, for the FY26 funding cycle. Construction proposals have the same deadline. Planning projects, however, are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • The estimated timeframe for EPA to review proposals for completeness is 2 months.
  • EPA will notify applicants of the draft proposal priority and whether the project is selected to continue with the application process in January 2026.
  • EPA will notify each applicant of the final ranking and funding decision, along with guidance letters for projects to be funded by grant, in April-August 2026.
  • Projects addressing any contaminant listed on EPA's Contaminant Candidate Lists (CCL) are eligible, as long as they are not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations. PFAS-focused projects are eligible and prioritized for emerging contaminant funding.

How to Apply

  • Contact Sara McGillewie (mcgillewie.sara@our website) or Katie Velazquez (velazquez.katie@our website) for general information about this program.
  • For specific discussions about drinking water emerging contaminants projects, contact your Infrastructure Project Officer.
  • All Project Proposal Applications must include a Project Proposal Form, positive laboratory samples for a contaminant of focus, Tribal Government Endorsement, and (for construction projects) a completed Preliminary Engineering Report.
  • The Tribe must submit the grant application or the Indian Health Service must submit the draft Memorandum of Agreement and signed Project Summary by the exact dates included in the funding decision notification letters.

Assigned Districts

  • The Reno District is assigned to Katie Velazquez.
  • The Western Arizona District and Sacramento and Ukiah Field Offices are assigned to Sara McGillewie.
  • The Escondido District and Clovis Field Office are assigned to Madeleine Tango.
  • The Eastern Arizona District and Redding District are assigned to Emma Young.
  • The Navajo Nation Area is assigned to Adam Ramos.
  • The Tucson Area is assigned to Nancy Sockabasin.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include planning activities such as sampling and analysis, technical assistance, development of outreach materials, and construction activities like installation of water treatment systems, consolidation with another public water system, and identification of a new water source.

Important Notes

  • Electronic files exceeding 8MB must be divided into emails not exceeding 8MB each.
  • The estimated timeframe for EPA to process and award funds for projects is 3 months.
  • The program's guidelines are available on the EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) website.
  • Applicants can submit comments on their draft project prioritization in March 2026.
  • The estimated timeframe for the Tribe to respond to EPA comments is 1 month.

For more information about the EPA's Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Program for Tribes in Region 9, please contact the assigned district or visit the EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) website.

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