The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the opening of a new 2024 grant program to help small water systems, from mobile home parks to schools, to address contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and manganese.
The Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program will begin accepting applications on Jan. 16, 2024.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, the new program will help other-than-municipal community and non-profit, non-transient non-community public water systems.
Other-than-municipal community public water systems are not owned by a government or municipality and serve groups of 25 or more year-round residents. Common examples include mobile home parks, apartment buildings and condominium associations.
Non-transient non-community public water systems are non-residential and regularly serve groups of at least 25 of the same people over six months of the year. Common examples include schools and daycare centers.
The grant funding comes as other-than-municipal community and non-profit, non-transient non-community public water systems around Wisconsin are actively finishing initial PFAS testing required under Wis. Admin. Code § NR 809.
“This is an exciting opportunity to offer financial help to some of Wisconsin’s smallest public water systems,” said Adam DeWeese, DNR public water supply section manager. “PFAS and manganese contamination impacts communities across Wisconsin, but other-than-municipal community and non-transient non-community public water systems have historically been ineligible for funding opportunities. This new grant program offers a unique opportunity for the DNR to fund small or disadvantaged public water systems to reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water.”
The Wisconsin DNR recommends that interested applicants review the Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant announcement for detailed information on eligibility and how to prepare an application. Questions may be emailed to [email protected].
