The total State need, which is the figure that EPA will use to calculate the allotment formula, includes only the needs of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The funds available to the States will be the level of funds appropriated by Congress, less the national set-asides, which includes an allocation for American Indian and Alaska Native Village water systems. Of the funds available to States, the SDWA includes specific allocations for the Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The total State need includes all documented projects collected by the Needs Survey. The method that EPA uses to allocate funds to States is based on each State's share of the total State need.
Several States have explicit restrictions against providing funding to privately-owned enterprises.
Such restrictions may be the result of statutory or constitutional provisions at the State level or may be due to policy decisions made by the State program. It is important to note that in reviewing the issue, EPA found that some States with explicit restrictions are working to make changes to legislation or are working to identify alternative methods of assisting privately-owned systems. EPA also found that some States that had the authority to provide assistance to privately- owned utilities had not done so. It is likely that any attempt to remedy inequities through the allotment method would itself be inequitable. Although we are not making changes to the allotment formula, the Agency will continue to monitor States with respect to their decisions to fund privately-owned systems to ensure that the program maximizes benefits to public health.