DEQ Awards $1.5M to Lewiston for Wastewater PFAS Treatment

news

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded $1,501,280 in low-interest wastewater emerging contaminant construction loan funding to the City of Lewiston. The funding addresses PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals through infrastructure improvements. The loan carries 0% interest and $1,501,280 in principal forgiveness, representing $2,808,964 in savings compared to municipal general obligation debt.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

DEQ awarded $1,501,280 to the City of Lewiston through the State Revolving Loan Fund for wastewater infrastructure targeting emerging contaminants including PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The project will include an environmental review, installation of additional water mains for the East Orchards neighborhood, and conversion of homes from septic systems to public wastewater treatment. The funding is capitalized by EPA grants through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This is an informational announcement regarding grant funding; no regulatory compliance action is required by other entities. No deadlines or penalties apply to regulated parties. The announcement is for notification purposes only as the program represents established federal infrastructure funding.

Source document (simplified)

March 31, 2026
Construction Grant, News Releases Contact: MaryAnna Peavey, Grants and Loans Bureau Chief, maryanna.peavey@deq.idaho.gov

BOISE – The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today awarded $1,501,280 in low-interest wastewater emerging contaminant construction loan funding to the City of Lewiston in Nez Perce County, Idaho.

The funding will be used to complete an environmental review and address PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals by installing additional water mains for the East Orchards neighborhood and converting homes from septic to a public wastewater treatment plant.

The loan is from DEQ’s State Revolving Loan Fund and capitalized annually by grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Emerging Contaminants program, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The loan carries a simple 0% interest rate and $1,501,280 in principal forgiveness. The favorable loan terms represent $2,808,964 in savings to the community when compared to average costs for municipal general obligation debt issuances.