PFAS Grant Program

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), through its Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), administers the PFAS Grant Program established by Senate Bill 20-218. This program aims to provide financial support to mitigate and prevent environmental and public health threats associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These hazardous chemicals, found in firefighting foams, personal care products, and other industrial sources, pose long-term risks to groundwater and surface water, directly affecting Colorado’s drinking water systems and ecosystem health. The PFAS Grant Program is funded through a PFAS Cash Fund sourced from fuel-related transportation fees and is authorized to operate from 2020 through 2031. The grant program is structured into three core categories: Sampling, Emergency Assistance, and Infrastructure. Each category targets a different stage or severity of PFAS contamination. The Sampling category includes both standard sampling and Independent Environmental Studies (IES), offering up to $10,000 for standard projects and up to $300,000 for IES initiatives. Emergency Assistance grants are directed toward communities experiencing PFAS contamination above EPA-established thresholds, with awards ranging up to $500,000. Infrastructure grants support the planning, design, and construction of water system upgrades, also with a ceiling of $500,000. Funding is allocated annually and distributed through a cost reimbursement process, contingent upon the availability of funds and applicant compliance with project and reporting requirements. Eligible applicants include a wide range of governmental and tribal entities, public and nonprofit water systems, counties, fire departments, wastewater treatment facilities, watershed groups, and nonprofit educational institutions. Each grant application must include a checklist, financial risk assessment, W-9, category-specific application questions, a project budget, and additional documents such as sampling maps or detailed project plans. Nonprofit and for-profit entities, as well as local governments, must complete a financial risk assessment questionnaire unless otherwise exempted by CDPHE policy. The application process for 2026 opens on January 5 and closes on March 13, with evaluations conducted between March 16 and March 31. Awards are expected to be announced by April 1, with contracts going into effect on August 1 for initial-cycle applicants. Emergency Assistance grants remain open for rolling applications throughout the year, and a rolling application window for other categories may begin on May 1 depending on remaining funds. The PFAS program emphasizes priority for vulnerable communities, schools, and childcare centers, and places particular focus on high-risk or previously impacted sites. The evaluation of applications includes both technical and financial assessments. Projects are scored based on the vulnerability of water sources, population size, proximity to PFAS sources, and whether the applicant serves disproportionately impacted communities. Projects involving water used for drinking or irrigation or associated with schools receive higher priority. Additional scoring is based on budget clarity and the feasibility of proposed activities. Final awards are influenced by funding availability and the results of financial risk assessments. For more information, applicants can contact the PFAS Grant Program at [email protected]. All application materials, including forms and templates, are available online via the CDPHE PFAS Grant Program webpage. The next request for applications is expected to be released in November 2026 for the following calendar year. The program may be renewed for up to four additional years, reinforcing Colorado's commitment to addressing PFAS-related health and environmental challenges through comprehensive and collaborative approaches.

Prioritize projects involving schools, drinking water sources, or disproportionately impacted communities; follow format and budget clarity expectations.