North Dakota receives federal funds to treat water contaminants

(Bismarck, ND) -- North Dakota is getting federal funds to improve water quality in the state.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding North Dakota with $18.9 million to benefit communities with unhealthy levels of manganese in their drinking water. The funds will also be used to test and treat contaminants, providing clean drinking water to households, and to establish workforce training for public water systems. 

"This agreement provides funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to the State of North Dakota to implement resources and priorities to help address Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminant challenges; target resources to communities most in need of assistance to ensure that no community is left behind with unsafe, inadequate water; and advance the priorities of equity and environmental justice," said the description released to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

The funds will lead to the construction of a raw water transfer center to assist communities in the Northeast and East Central regions of North Dakota.