Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant

Implementation Guidance for Public Water Systems

The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant program is available to assist public water systems (PWSs) in small or disadvantaged communities in addressing PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

The application period for 2026 funding is open until August 31, 2026. Additional applications will be reviewed after the closing date if funding remains. PWSs that meet the grant eligibility requirements detailed in the EC-SDC Implementation Guide may submit an EC-SDC Needs Survey to the KY Division of Water (DOW) at PFAS@ky.gov to apply.

Applicant Eligibility

PWSs that serve small or disadvantaged communities are eligible grant applicants for projects to address emerging contaminants. To be eligible, the PWS must meet at least one of the four criteria for a small or disadvantaged community as defined in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1. Applicant eligibility criteria for small communities and the method used to determine eligibility.

PWS Eligibility Criteria	Eligibility Determination
1. Serves a population of less than 10,000 individuals that is unable to finance the project.	Population served is determined by the number of people directly served by the PWS.

Table 2. Applicant eligibility criteria for disadvantaged communities and the method used to determine eligibility.

PWS Eligibility Criteria	Eligibility Determination
2. A system-wide median household income (MHI) is less than the state's MHI.	Calculated in Water Resource Information System (WRIS).
3. A project area MHI less than the state's MHI.	Calculated in Water Resource Information System (WRIS) or by using census tract information.
4. An affordability index ratio of 1.0 or greater.	Calculated as the annual 4,000-gallon water rate divided by the system MHI, rounded to the nearest tenth.

Project Eligibility

To be eligible for EC-SDC grant funds, the project must have a primary purpose to address one or more emerging contaminants in drinking water. Eligible project activities may include but are not limited to the categories listed in Table 3.

Table 3. Categories of project activities that are eligible and ineligible for EC-SDC funds.

Eligible Activities	Ineligible Activities
Scoping and identification Testing or sampling for baseline assessment Research and testing Planning and design Treatment Source Storage Water system restructuring, consolidation, or creation Providing households with access to drinking water services Technical assistance Public communication, engagement, and education	Bottled water distribution Projects whose primary purpose is not to address emerging contaminants Remediation of contaminated groundwater or underlying aquifers Land purchases and appraisals Operations and maintenance costs (prohibited by statute) Lead service line replacement Replacement of premise plumbing Construction or rehabilitation of dams Activities needed primarily for fire protection Activities needed primarily to serve future population growth Activities conducted prior to the MOA completion Unallowable Costs (e.g., lobbying and alcoholic beverages) under 2 CFR 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles

Eligible Activities

Ineligible Activities

Scoping and identification
Testing or sampling for baseline assessment
Research and testing
Planning and design
Treatment
Source
Storage
Water system restructuring, consolidation, or creation
Providing households with access to drinking water services
Technical assistance
Public communication, engagement, and education

Bottled water distribution
Projects whose primary purpose is not to address emerging contaminants
Remediation of contaminated groundwater or underlying aquifers
Land purchases and appraisals
Operations and maintenance costs (prohibited by statute)
Lead service line replacement
Replacement of premise plumbing
Construction or rehabilitation of dams
Activities needed primarily for fire protection
Activities needed primarily to serve future population growth
Activities conducted prior to the MOA completion
Unallowable Costs (e.g., lobbying and alcoholic beverages) under 2 CFR 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles

Project Priority

Projects that address PFAS will be given priority based on PFAS levels in raw and finished drinking water and the need for financial assistance. PFAS results will be compared to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) in Table 3. Although priority is given to address PFAS, projects that address any contaminant listed on any EPA Contaminant Candidate Lists are eligible.

Table 4. Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for PFOA and PFOS in parts per trillion (ppt).

Chemical	MCLG	MCL
PFOA	0	4.0 ppt
PFOS	0	4.0 ppt

Project Application and Approval

PWSs should review the EC-SDC Implementation Guide to determine if the applicant and project eligibility requirements are met. The system should also contact DOW at PFAS@ky.gov to discuss their project ideas and submit an EC-SDC Needs Survey, which may act as the project proposal. If the project is approved, DOW will develop a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that must be signed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet and the grant recipient before any grant activities begin.

KY EC-SDC Implementation GuideAdditional EC-SDC grant details KY EC-SDC Needs SurveySubmit to PFAS@ky.gov to apply KY Division of Water Drinking Water PFAS Compliance information KY Department for Environmental Protection PFAS webpageLearn what KY is doing to address PFAS EPA EC-SDC webpage EPA Final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

For more information contact:
PFAS@ky.gov

Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant

​​​​​​​​​​Implementation Guidance for Public Water Systems

Implementation Guidance for Public Water Systems