§300j–3 Special project grants and guaranteed loans

Summary

The Administrator can give grants to people to help build and test new or better ways to provide a safe, reliable supply of drinking water. Grants also can fund projects that study health effects and safe treatment methods for reclaimed, recycled, or reused wastewater. Grants may pay up to 66⅔ percent of construction costs and up to 75 percent of other costs. Projects that change public water system facilities must be approved by the State drinking water or health agency. The Administrator must first consult the National Drinking Water Advisory Council and find the project useful. Projects that address known or potential health hazards needing advanced particle-removal technology get priority. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1975, June 30, 1976, and June 30, 1977, funds of $7,500,000, $7,500,000, and $10,000,000 are authorized. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1975 and June 30, 1976, the Administrator must run a loan-guarantee program for private loans to small public water systems to meet the national primary drinking water regulations under section 300g–1. Guarantees apply only if the system cannot reasonably get other financial help and the Administrator finds the new facilities likely will not be made obsolete by later regulatory changes. No system may have more than $50,000 guaranteed, and total guarantees may not exceed $50,000,000. The Administrator must write rules to run the loan program.