May 19, 2026 — La Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico — Governor of Puerto Rico Jenniffer González-Colón, together with PRFAA Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli, announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $11,407,000 in new funding under the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) program.

These funds will be used to address the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, as well as other emerging contaminants in drinking water systems across Puerto Rico.

This program is part of the EPA’s broader national strategy to protect public health and ensure access to safe drinking water for all communities.

“Everyone in Puerto Rico deserves confidence that the water coming from their tap is safe,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “This funding gives Puerto Rico’s communities more tools to test for PFAS and other emerging contaminants, plan for long-term solutions and make the infrastructure upgrades needed to protect public health.”

Governor González-Colón stated: “I thank President Donald J. Trump, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Regional Administrator Michael Martucci for their support for Puerto Rico and for urgently addressing this critical issue. This funding allows us to strengthen our drinking water systems, modernize essential infrastructure, and respond more effectively to the presence of emerging contaminants in our communities.”

PRFAA Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli emphasized the importance of federal coordination: “This allocation is the result of effective coordination between the administration of Governor González-Colón and the federal government. From PRFAA, we will continue strengthening coordination with federal agencies to support the efficient use of these funds for the direct benefit of our communities in Puerto Rico.”

The EC-SDC program represents a $1 billion national investment to help communities address emerging contaminants in drinking water systems.

In Puerto Rico, these funds may be used to:

·       Conduct water quality testing and monitoring

·       Identify contamination from emerging chemicals

·       Develop long-term mitigation and remediation strategies

·       Upgrade and modernize drinking water infrastructure

·       Support water systems and private wells in vulnerable communities

To date, the EPA has made up to $5 billion available over five years through this program. In addition, more than $6.5 billion is available in low-interest financing through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), which may also be used to address these contaminants.

This level of investment helps reduce treatment costs, improve decision-making for water systems, and accelerate the development of new technologies for contaminant removal.

The EPA’s PFAS OUTreach (PFAS OUT) initiative continues working directly with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to these contaminants, particularly in rural and resource-limited areas.

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