EPA earmarks $49 million in funding for rural, tribal wastewater infrastructure improvements

(UI) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $49 million in new technical assistance funding to help rural, small and Tribal communities address critical wastewater and water quality challenges.

The new funding will be awarded to technical assistance providers who will help communities identify their water infrastructure needs and guide them toward appropriate funding options.

Many rural, small, and Tribal systems face unique financial and operational challenges, including aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, and declining rate bases.

EPA’s grant funding will be used to assess the most pressing water challenges in communities, provide training on water infrastructure and management best practices, help communities navigate the federal funding application process, and strategically invest in reliable infrastructure solutions.

EPA’s notice of funding availability identifies four priorities for this funding:

Acquisition of financing and funding: These applicants will help rural, small, and Tribal communities plan for and access funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and other sources.

Protection of water quality and compliance assistance: This funding will help rural, small, and Tribal communities improve their technical, managerial, and financial capacity and maintain compliance.

Tribal wastewater systems: This area provides training and technical assistance to tribes across all areas of their Clean Water Infrastructure.

Decentralized wastewater systems: More than one in five households in the United States rely on septic systems and other decentralized systems, and this priority area focuses on assistance to those communities. EPA is accepting applications until November 25, 2024.

“Our nation’s water infrastructure delivers clean drinking water to homes, schools and businesses and safely returns wastewater to the environment. But there are far too many people in this country dealing with broken, old or simply non-existent water infrastructure,” said EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott.

“This $49 million will help more rural, small, and Tribal communities address pressing water challenges while advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to close the water equity gap in our country.”

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