The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of up to $30.7 million in grant funding to support small drinking water and wastewater systems, particularly in rural areas, and to improve water quality for private well owners.
More than 90% of drinking water systems in the United States serve fewer than 10,000 people. While these systems are integral to local communities, they face challenges, including high operator turnover, aging infrastructure, and limited financial resources.
According to Bruno Pigott, EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water, dedicated water professionals in small communities play a vital role in providing clean water with limited resources. These grants aim to support them by providing technical assistance and training to help address these challenges.
The EPA’s program targets small public water systems, which often struggle to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) due to these financial and managerial constraints. Nonprofit organizations, universities, and public institutions are encouraged to apply for these funds, as they will provide technical support, managerial training, and financial advice to these small systems to help them meet regulatory requirements and improve water quality.
This grant program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which seeks to ensure that 40% of the benefits from federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. These communities, often marginalized due to underinvestment and overburdened by pollution, stand to benefit significantly from this program. Focusing on rural and small communities is especially crucial, as these areas frequently lack the financial resources and technical expertise to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure. Since 2012, more than $170 million has been allocated to similar technical assistance and training initiatives, which have helped small communities overcome these barriers.
This funding initiative is part of the broader Water Technical Assistance program (WaterTA), launched by the EPA to provide holistic support to communities facing water challenges. WaterTA has supported approximately 5,000 communities since 2022, helping them comply with the SDWA and responsibly manage wastewater treatment. The program focuses on compliance and building long-term capacity by training operators and providing communities with the tools they need to manage their water systems independently in the future.
The WaterTA program also emphasizes decentralized wastewater systems, which are common in rural areas. These systems often serve isolated or small populations and can be challenging to manage without proper training. By providing technical assistance, the EPA is helping to ensure that these systems operate efficiently, improving local water quality and protecting public health.
The EPA is seeking applications for this grant program, with eligible applicants including nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education. The application process will be open through November 25, 2024, with awards expected by the summer of 2025. The EPA anticipates funding four to five cooperative agreements to directly support small public water systems and private well owners in improving water quality.
The EPA also recently announced an additional $49 million in technical assistance for rural, small, and tribal communities to address wastewater challenges, furthering its commitment to supporting these underserved areas. New tools have been released to help these communities manage wastewater, particularly in regions that rely on lagoon systems, which can present unique management and environmental challenges.
The EPA’s $30.7 million grant funding represents a critical investment in the future of rural and small water systems across the U.S.
The technical assistance and capacity-building efforts provided through these grants will be game-changers for small communities, particularly those that struggle to maintain compliance with federal regulations.
The Biden-Harris Administration has issued a final rule requiring all U.S. drinking water systems to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years, with support from the EPA’s newly available $168 million in funding for Region 8 states, including Colorado, Montana, and others. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) aim to protect communities from lead exposure through more rigorous testing, improved communication, and a commitment to replacing all lead pipes. This initiative is a key part of the administration's effort to eliminate lead contamination in drinking water and address environmental justice issues, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The funding will flow through state revolving funds, with 49% allocated to disadvantaged communities. The EPA is also providing $35 million in competitive grants to support lead reduction projects. The LCRI is expected to bring significant health and economic benefits, preventing conditions like low birth weight in infants and IQ loss in children. Additionally, cities like Denver, Milwaukee, and Detroit have already begun replacing lead pipes with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, accelerating efforts to safeguard public health while creating local jobs.
