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EC-SDC Grant Program for OTM / NonProfit NN Systems

Emerging Contaminants-Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program for Other-than-Municipal/Nonprofit Non-transient Non-community Public Water Systems

ATTENTION: Next funding cycle for PFAS and manganese in small drinking water systems opens October 1, 2024.
Please check the EC-SDC Grant Announcement and the EC-SDC FAQ resource for more details on how to prepare and submit an application. Applications due by June 30, 2025.

The 2021 federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provided funds to assist public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities in addressing emerging contaminants. This program is known as the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC). The Wisconsin DNR received grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide financial assistance to OTM and nonprofit NN public water systems serving small or disadvantaged communities. This program focuses on PFAS and manganese as emerging contaminants.

What are OTMs?

Other-Than-Municipal Community (OTM) public water systems are not owned by a government or municipality and serve groups of 25 or more year-round residents. OTMs can include mobile home parks, apartment buildings, and condominium associations that are not on city or municipal water.

What are nonprofit NNs?

Non-Transient Non-Community (NN) public water systems are nonresidential and regularly serve groups of at least 25 of the same people over six months of the year. NNs can include schools and daycare centers that are not on city or municipal water. A nonprofit NN is a government entity, a public school district or an organization that is described under section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue code which does not lobby.

Eligibility

Eligibility

Who can apply?

You must answer "yes" to each of the following three questions:

☑   Are you the owner or authorized representative of an OTM or nonprofit NN public water system?

  • An authorized representative refers to the public water system owner or other designated individual who is legally allowed to act on behalf of the public water system. This person will assume responsibility for all grant award obligations and federal and state requirements and signs all grant administration documents (i.e., application, grant contract, payment reimbursement materials, close-out certifications, etc.).

☑   Does your public water system serve a community that has a population less than 10,000?

☑   Does your public water system have either PFAS or manganese contamination?

  • PFAS contamination occurs when the most result sample taken at an entry point in the water system contains:
    • PFOA or PFOS of 2 ng/L or greater, 
    • PFHxS, PFNA or HFPO-DA of 5 ng/L or greater, 
    • PFAS with an EPA hazard index value of 0.5 or greater, or
    • PFAS with the 2020 DHS hazard index value of 1.0 or greater.

 OR

  • Manganese contamination occurs when the most recent sample taken at an entry point in the water system has a sample result of 300 µg/L or greater.
Project Eligibility

Project must include actions to address PFAS or manganese contamination. See the grant announcement for more detailed information. Examples of eligible items:

  1. Project planning and design
  2. Technical assistance
  3. Construction or treatment to address contamination, including:
    • Consolidation with another water system
    • New well construction and old well abandonment
    • Treatment installation

Apply

Applying

Complete applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications are accepted continually until June 30, 2025, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. See the grant announcement for details on how to apply. If you have any questions, please email DNRECSDCGrants@wisconsin.gov.

STEP 1: Review the Eligibility tab and the grant announcement to verify your eligibility.

STEP 2: Review the program requirements in the grant announcement, including applicable federal requirements. The EC-SDC Next Steps for Applicants and EC-SDC FAQ resource are helpful resources. 

STEP 3: Reach out to a technical assistance provider for free support. Note: This step is optional and not a requirement. 

STEP 4: Develop your project. Plan review may be needed for your project and is a separate process from the application. It is important to submit materials for plan review as soon as possible as it may take 90 days or longer to receive DNR approval.

STEP 5: Prepare your application materials and sign up for a Unique Entity ID (UEI) through SAM.gov. A UEI is needed on your application form and can take up to two months to establish. Note: Signing up for a UEI is free and you do not have to register your entity.  

STEP 6: Submit your application materials to: DNRECSDCGrants@wisconsin.gov. The DNR will only review submittals with complete applications and attachments. The DNR will notify you if you are approved for a grant award. The DNR will only reimburse project costs incurred after the award date, unless the DNR approved eligible pre-award project costs.

Application Materials

A complete application package includes all of the following documents:

Deadlines

Deadlines

The application period opens October 1, 2024. Complete applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted continually until June 30, 2025, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

Application period deadline: June 30, 2025

Funding

Available Funding

Eligible projects may be funded up to $240,000 per public water system. There is no cost-share requirement for this grant. The grant award will cover 100% of eligible project costs.

In this application cycle, the department intends to award $5 million in grants to OTM and nonprofit NN public water systems to address PFAS and manganese contamination. Funding for this grant program is provided to the State of Wisconsin by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 (BIL).

EC-SDC Grant Awards

EC-SDC Grant Program Grant Award Recipients List

Federal Award Details

Federal Award Identification Number: 00E03535
Federal Award Date: 09/14/2023
Assistance Listing#: 66.442 - Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program
Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Total Amount of the Federal Award: $25,267,000.00
FY23 EPA General Terms & Conditions 
EC-SDC Grant Program for OTMs & Non-profit NNs Federal Requirements

Reimbursement

Grant award payments are made on a reimbursement basis. Grantees may submit partial reimbursement requests quarterly for actual and eligible expenses incurred within the grant performance period. All costs submitted must be documented and consistent with the grant agreement. The DNR will withhold 20% of grant award funds for final payment.

Progress reports are due to the DNR semiannually on January 1st and July 1st for the duration of the grant performance period. Failure to submit reports in a timely manner may delay reimbursement request approval.

Reimbursement Materials

Additional documentation is required for final payment requests:

Resources

Licensed Well Contractors

Find individuals and companies licensed to do well drilling, pump work and heat exchange drilling. Lists are grouped by county.

Technical Assistance Providers

  1. Wisconsin Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)
    The RCAP assists small communities throughout Wisconsin with utility, financial, asset management, and other needs. Wisconsin RCAP is part of Great Lakes RCAP, administered by Great Lakes Community Action Partnership.
  2. Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA)
    The WRWA's mission is to educate the water and wastewater industry through training and technical assistance.
  3. Delta Institute
    The Delta Institute collaborates with communities to solve complex environmental challenges through the Midwest by addressing Midwestern environmental, economic, and climate challenges for a more resilient, equitable and innovative future.
  4. Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center (GLEIC)
    The GLEIC provides no-cost technical assistance services for drinking water systems serving 10,000 or fewer people.
  5. Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)
    The mission of the Great Lakes TCTAC is to support community organizations successfully navigate funding requirements such as SAM.gov registration, grant proposal editing, and additional application support services.

Grant Resources

Contacts

Contacts

 
For application, eligibility, technical, and general programmatic questions, contact:
Briana Harter
Grant Coordinator
608-893-0709
 
For grant award, reimbursement, and other financial administration questions, contact:
Elisabeth (Lis) Kuisis
Grant Manager
608-400-3005