EPA Awards Small System and Private Well Assistance Grants

On May 20, 2025, EPA announced $30 million in grant funding to assist small and rural water and wastewater systems and private well owners. The grant recipients, funding amounts, and activities include:

• National Rural Water Association (NRWA): $9 million to support small systems, and enhance operator licensing and system performance.
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP):
  • $9.9 million to strengthen small systems, develop lead service line replacement plans, and improve cybersecurity.
  • $1.25 million to help small wastewater and on-site/decentralized wastewater systems improve water quality.
  • $3.45 million to help private well owners improve water quality and test for PFAS contamination.
• Southwest Environmental Finance Center (EFC):
  • $7 million to build small system capacity and improve operational efficiency and performance.

In addition, EPA is re-launching the Water Infrastructure and Capacity Assessment Tool (Water ICAT). Water ICAT is a map tool that uses data on water system compliance, demographics and economics, and historical water infrastructure funding to help users identify drinking water and wastewater systems that may benefit from technical assistance.

For more information about the grants, visit EPA’s website.