Arizona has received a $20 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aimed at expanding testing and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS or "forever chemicals," and other emerging contaminants in drinking water across the state. The award targets small and disadvantaged communities, officials said, and is part of a larger federal effort to help local water systems detect and address contamination that has migrated into groundwater and surface water. The funding was announced at a recent event where federal and state representatives described how the money will be used to identify affected sources and install treatment where needed.
A speaker addresses attendees under a “Marana Water” tent at a water facility ceremony — officials gathered to announce EPA funding aimed at addressing PFAS and other contaminants in Arizona drinking water.
PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals used for decades in products such as waterproof clothing, nonstick cookware including Teflon, and the foams used by firefighters. "They’ve kind of worked their way into our lives, whether it be cookware, clothing, industrial applications," said Luis Garcia Bakarich, supervisory life scientist with the EPA Region 9 Water Division. He and other EPA officials said that legacy uses and ongoing applications have resulted in PFAS reaching both groundwater and surface water in parts of Arizona, prompting the need for expanded testing and remediation.
The grant to Arizona comes from the EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities program, known as EC-SDC, a $1 billion initiative established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Officials noted the EC-SDC funding stream is intended to reach systems that otherwise lack the capacity or capital to tackle complex contamination problems. The EC-SDC grants were described as part of broader federal efforts to address drinking water contaminants; agency materials and officials involved in the announcement pointed to connections between the program and other national initiatives to increase water system resilience and safety.
Under the plan outlined by EPA and state officials, the $20 million will pay for expanded PFAS testing across more water systems in Arizona and support the installation of treatment at sites where drinking water has been found to exceed acceptable levels. To date, the state has tested 880 water systems; more than 140 of those systems — roughly 15% — have detectable levels of PFAS. The grant is intended to help move systems from detection to remediation by funding treatment equipment and related project costs.
The funds will be distributed to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, which will work together to allocate money to public water systems. Those two state entities are responsible for oversight, prioritization and financing of upgrades to utilities that face contamination challenges. Officials said the goal is to help water providers develop practical treatment solutions and restore previously impacted water sources for safe use.
One of the treatment options EPA representatives discussed is granulated activated carbon, or GAC, a filtration material that removes certain PFAS compounds from water. "One treatment technology is granulated activated carbon, or GAC — the same filter material used in countertop water filter pitchers," Garcia Bakarich noted. The grant is expected to reduce barriers for utilities considering GAC and other proven technologies by covering upfront capital and installation costs when needed.
GAC-labeled filtration tanks and piping at a water treatment plant — examples of the treatment infrastructure the $20 million EPA grant will help support to reduce PFAS and other contaminants in drinking water.
Officials emphasized that the money is designed to both expand monitoring and increase the amount of safe, available water for utilities. "This EC-SDC funding is going to actually provide money so that they can install treatment on those previously impacted water sources. And that’s going to really increase the available water," Garcia Bakarich said. State and federal representatives said the next steps will include developing lists of priority systems, coordinating technical assistance and moving toward procurement and installation of treatment systems where tests show PFAS or other emerging contaminants at levels of concern.
The EPA award represents a targeted federal investment meant to accelerate local responses to contamination that disproportionately affects smaller or resource-constrained communities. By directing funds through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, officials said the grant should help utilities clear technical and financial hurdles and bring treated water back into service. The announcement closed with officials encouraging water systems to engage with the agencies administering the funds so projects can move from planning into construction and operation as soon as feasible.