R.I. Infrastructure Bank Awards $1.7 Million To Chariho, Foster & Scituate Public Schools To Address PFAS

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, the state’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health has awarded a total of $1,714,928 in Emerging Contaminants grants to the Chariho, Foster, and Scituate Public School districts for water treatment upgrades to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) from their small drinking water systems. Grant funding was made available through the EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities fund, designed specifically for small communities that lack the capacity to otherwise complete remediation projects.

Chariho Regional School District – $615,000 – PFAS Remediation Work at Charlestown Elementary School

Foster School Department – $674,928 – New Well, Pump House, and PFAS Treatment at Captain Isaac Paine Elementary School

Scituate Public Schools – $425,000 – PFAS Treatment Upgrades at North Scituate Elementary School

“Emerging contaminants, including PFAS, are being detected in more and more drinking water sources across Rhode Island, including in many small water providers that lack the financial resources to invest in needed treatment upgrades,”
William Fazioli, Executive Director of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. “These Emerging Contaminants grants will provide the Chariho, Foster, and Scituate Public School districts, which collectively serve approximately 1,250 students and faculty throughout the school year, the funding they need to upgrade their drinking water systems to remove PFAS.”

“Providing safe drinking water for our students, teachers, and staff is absolutely essential,”
Jason Martin, Director of Operations at the Scituate School Department. “That is why when we learned of elevated PFAS levels in our well water system, we immediately began working on a solution. We want to thank Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Rhode Island Department of Health for working with us to secure this grant funding so we can upgrade our treatment process to remove PFAS from our drinking water.”

“All Rhode Islanders deserve access to drinking water that is healthy and safe,”
Jerry Larkin, MD, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “Funding opportunities like this are key to minimizing exposure to contaminants like PFAS in smaller water systems in Rhode Island.”

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Emerging Contaminants State Revolving Fund program and the Emerging Contaminants–Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant program, Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has more than $30 million in grant funding available for local water suppliers to address emerging contaminants like PFAS.

Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is Rhode Island’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners. We leverage capital in a revolving fund to offer innovative financing for an array of infrastructure-based projects including water and wastewater, road and bridge, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and brownfield remediation. These quality-of-life projects improve the State’s infrastructure, create jobs, promote economic development, and enhance the environment. www.riib.org – Facebook: @RIinfrastructure – Twitter: @RI_InfraBank

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