EPA recently opened $30.7 million in grants for rural water infrastructure.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the availability of up to $30.7 million in grant funding for technical assistance and training to support small drinking water and wastewater systems, many serving rural communities, and to help private good owners improve water quality.
In the United States, more than 90 percent of drinking water systems serve fewer than 10,000 people. While many of these tiny systems consistently provide safe drinking water to their customers, they can also face challenges, including high operator turnover, aging infrastructure, and lack of financial resources. Wastewater systems serving small communities face similar challenges. This EPA grant program provides funding to organizations that work side-by-side with these systems, providing tools and training to ensure drinking water is safe and that wastewater is treated responsibly.
EPA is seeking applications to fund grant projects that benefit small and often rural communities. Eligible applicants for this competitive agreement are nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education. EPA expects to award four to five cooperative agreements totaling up to $30.7 million in federal funds. The purpose of the agreements is to provide training and technical assistance to:
- Small public water systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
- Small public water systems on a wide range of managerial and/or financial topics to achieve and maintain compliance with the SDWA.
- Small publicly owned wastewater systems, communities served by onsite-decentralized wastewater systems to help improve water quality.
- Private well owners to help improve water quality.
The application period for these competitive grants is now open. Questions about applying for EPA funding for training and technical assistance must be received by November 11, 2024, and applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 25, 2024. EPA expects to award these cooperative agreements by summer of 2025.
This grant will be completed through a Notice of Funding Opportunity process. The funding opportunity will remain open for 60 days on Grants.gov. To learn more about the grant visit: Training and Technical Assistance for Small Systems Funding.
