§300j–1a Innovative Water Technology Grant Program

Summary

The EPA must run a grant program to speed up new water technologies that help public water systems, private wells, or source waters with supply, quality, treatment, or security problems. Administrator = the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Eligible entities = public water systems; colleges and universities; research institutions or foundations; regional water organizations; and certain nonprofits named in section 300j–1(e)(8) of the U.S. Code. Grants can pay to develop, test, and use new technologies or to give technical help to put proven technologies into use. Grants are chosen by competition and go to projects most able to meet the program goals. Priority goes to projects that cut costs, greatly improve health or the environment, or add drinking water with little environmental harm. The federal share cannot be more than 65 percent, and no single grant may exceed $5,000,000. The EPA must send a yearly report to Congress and post it online about advances from the funding. Projects may partner with private parties such as farmers, farmer cooperatives, or manufacturers. Congress authorized $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020.