- EPA announced $3 million for Tribal drinking water projects.
- Anadarko, Oklahoma will replace lead water mains.
- Mescalero Apache Tribe will rehabilitate a storage tank.
- White Mountain Apache Tribe will repair three storage tanks.
Thursday, September 18, 2025 –– On Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced more than $3 million in funding to reduce lead in drinking water for Tribal communities. The money will support three projects focused on replacing or rehabilitating infrastructure that still contains harmful lead materials.
Peggy Browne, EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, stated that strengthening Tribal public health and removing toxic lead remain key priorities under the agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative. She emphasized that these projects will protect current and future generations by addressing legacy lead sources.
Projects Across Three States.
The funds come from the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Tribal Grant Program and will be provided through agreements with the Indian Health Service. Once legal and administrative steps are completed, the following projects will move forward:
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Anadarko, Oklahoma: $1 million to identify and replace lead-lined water mains, lowering the risk of exposure.
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Mescalero Apache Tribe, New Mexico: More than $1 million to rehabilitate and restore a community water storage tank. Work will include removing lead paint, repairing steel and welds, and repainting.
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White Mountain Apache Tribal Utility Authority, Arizona: $984,000 to rehabilitate three aging steel water storage tanks by removing lead-based paint.
Part of Broader Tribal Water Investment.
The announcement follows recent steps by EPA to expand support for Tribal water programs. In July, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reaffirmed the EPA Indian Policy, which guides work with Tribes through nine fundamental principles. Also in July, the agency announced $1 million in funding for Tribal underground injection control programs designed to protect drinking water sources while supporting industry and energy projects.
In addition, EPA has allocated $202 million this year for improving drinking water and wastewater systems in American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. The agency has also provided $49 million for technical assistance to small, rural, and Tribal communities seeking to upgrade wastewater infrastructure.
Looking Ahead.
The $3 million in new project funding represents one piece of the ongoing federal effort to improve water quality and infrastructure in Tribal lands. By focusing on the removal of lead-lined mains and painted storage tanks, the EPA and its partners hope to ensure safer drinking water across generations.
Image: A water storage tank on the White Mountain Apache reservation.jpg "Opens in a new tab.")
(EPA).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
What is the goal of these projects?
The projects are designed to reduce or eliminate exposure to lead in Tribal drinking water systems. This includes replacing lead-lined mains and removing lead paint from storage tanks.
Which communities are receiving funding?
The City of Anadarko in Oklahoma, the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico, and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Utility Authority in Arizona are the recipients.
How much funding is being provided?
The EPA is providing just over $3 million in total, with each project receiving close to $1 million.
Why is lead in water a concern?
Lead exposure poses serious health risks, especially to children and pregnant women. It can affect neurological development, cause learning difficulties, and harm overall health.
How does this fit into EPA’s broader Tribal work?
These projects are part of larger federal investments, including more than $200 million in Tribal water and wastewater infrastructure in 2025, plus $49 million for technical assistance.
