BOSTON — The state is piloting a no-interest loan program to help cities and towns finance projects that address dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public water supplies.

The Massachusetts Treasury announced Monday that cities and towns must apply by the end of the year to be eligible for the loans, which are funded in part by a $10.65 million appropriation stemming from last year’s state budget surplus. The Treasury said requests for “emergency financing” must be submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection and will be subject to review and approval by the department and the state Clean Water Trust board of trustees.

PFAS are “a family of chemicals widely used since the 1950s to manufacture common consumer products and in firefighting,” according to the trust. “They have been linked to a variety of health risks, particularly in women who are pregnant or nursing, and in infants. PFAS in drinking water is an important emerging issue nationwide, as well as here in Massachusetts.”