MassDEP outlines ECSDC grant funding, timelines and eligible uses for small disadvantaged water systems

Abby Jacobs, ECSDC Grant Program Manager for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Drinking Water Program, opened the webinar by summarizing the Emerging Contaminants in Smaller Disadvantaged Communities (ECSDC) grants awarded by EPA in February 2023. She said the program provides states funds to help public water systems and small or disadvantaged communities address emerging contaminants such as PFAS and manganese.

Jacobs provided allocation figures and work-plan timelines for awardees. "This grant program is actually three separate grants," she said, noting combined allocations of about $38,000,000 for fiscal years 2022–23, about $19,200,000 for FY24 and about $19,500,000 for FY25. She told attendees to confirm which work plan their project is on because each work plan has a different end date; for example, the 22/23 work plan ends 09/30/2029 and the 2024 work plan ends 09/30/2030.

Why it matters: the assigned work plan determines milestone and completion dates that affect contracting, invoicing and eligibility for follow-on funding. Jacobs urged awardees to review their award letters and intake forms and to contact MassDEP regional staff with questions about timelines.

The webinar covered program goals, eligible contaminant types drawn from EPA's Consumer Confidence List and the overall intent to support treatment, testing, pilot studies and permitting activities that reduce contaminant risks for disadvantaged communities. Jacobs closed the overview by listing the presenter team and directing attendees to program contact emails for follow-up.