Information on qualifying for Engineering and Design Planning support funding through MassDEP
Background
Many public water suppliers (PWS) in Massachusetts have detected PFAS and other emerging contaminants in their drinking water at levels exceeding regulatory standards. Small and disadvantaged PWSs often do not have the technical or financial capacity to develop the necessary engineering and design plans to address the contamination, which is a necessary precursor to apply for grants, loans, or financial assistance to remediate the issue. MassDEP has contracted with two firms, through a Request for Quotes (RFQ) process to provide engineering and design planning assistance to such PWSs, with the goal of putting them in a position to apply for such financial assistance.
Comprehensive Environmental Incorporated (CEI) and Fuss & O’Neill, are the firms contracted to help small and disadvantaged PWS plan and design public water system modifications, consolidations, interconnections or new public water systems to address emerging contaminants in drinking water.
Both of these firms have significant experience in (1) the technical/engineering evaluation of drinking water systems; (2) the design of emerging contaminant mitigation systems; (3) US EPA and MassDEP regulatory requirements; and (4) familiarity with the US EPA’s Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements. MassDEP anticipates that these two firms will work with and assist multiple PWS on a concurrent basis.
The design plans these firms assist in developing will enable small PWS to apply for financial assistance, if an eligible entity, from the State Revolving Fund to implement a project; qualify for an Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant offered through the MassDEP DWP; and/or proceed with other financial support opportunities. Future funding opportunities, EC-SDC and SRF funding, are all subject to eligibility requirements and availability of funding (e.g., For-profit NTNCs are not eligible for SRF or EC-SDC funding).
This grant is supported with up to $1 million in funds and provides up to $75,000 in engineering and design costs per project.
Eligible Public Water Suppliers (PWS)
A PWS may be eligible for Engineering and Design Plan support if the PWS has a project to address PFAS or other emerging contaminant(s) (listed on any of USEPA’s Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate Lists), and meets each of the following criteria below:
- The PWS must be a Community PWS (publicly- or privately-owned), Non-Transient Non-Community (NTNC), or a non-profit Transient Non-Community (TNC)) water system (please note non-profit systems will receive higher funding priority than eligible for-profit systems).
- The PWS must be located in a disadvantaged community (as defined by the Clean Water Trust’s Disadvantaged Community Program)
- The PWS must be small (serving less than 10,000 population)
NOTE: Non-profit systems will receive higher funding priority than eligible for-profit systems.
Design/Planning Support
MassDEP’s contracted engineering firms will work with eligible PWS to review their emerging contaminant(s) data and assess the nature and extent of the contamination to identify efficient, cost-effective, and operator-friendly solutions to address it.
Contractor work may include reviewing relevant PWS records, conducting a site visit of the PWS facility, or determining if additional monitoring and analysis of the PWS is necessary to obtain sufficient information for the development of an engineering and design plan.
During the review, the firm may also advise if cost to plan and design exceed the financial cap. If so, the applicant must fund the remaining costs through other funding sources.
The selected firms will assist PWS to identify options to address the emerging contaminant issue and make PWS-specific recommendations. Firms will then develop an engineering design plan, establish a cost estimate, and incorporate various financing requirements as well as gather required permits necessary to complete the given project.
PWS above the Massachusetts and/or EPA PFAS MCLs will be required to take action and fully implement their proposed plan. All grantees will be strongly considered for future EC-SDC funding for full plan implementation.
Projects
Engineering and Design Plans to Address Emerging Contaminants
Projects plans developed by the engineering firms include:
- Treatment of Emerging Contaminant(s)
- Source Water Activities Related to Emerging Contaminants
- Storage
- Water System Restructuring, Interconnection, Consolidation, or Creation
- Providing Households Access to Drinking Water Services (only PWS, not homeowners, are eligible to receive a grant
Project Review and Grant Rewarding
PWS who believe they may be eligible for engineering and design planning financial support should complete an E&D Plan Grant Application. PWS should be sure to complete all required questions and press the ‘submit’ button at the bottom of the form when finished.