Water & Environmental Programs
To apply for Water & Environmental Grant and Loan funding, visit RD Apply.
Through Rural Utilities Service Water and Environmental Programs (WEP), rural communities obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems. Safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital not only to public health, but also to the economic vitality of rural America. Rural Development is a leader in helping rural America improve the quality of life and increase the economic opportunities for rural people.
WEP provides funding for the construction of water and waste facilities in rural communities and is proud to be the only Federal program exclusively focused on rural water and waste infrastructure needs of rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less. WEP also provides funding to organizations that provide technical assistance and training to rural communities in relation to their water and waste activities. WEP is administered through National Office staff in Washington, DC, and a network of field staff in each State.
Water and Environmental Programs
Calendar Year 2022 Disaster Water Grants Program
This program helps eligible communities handle expenses related to incidents (Presidentially declared disasters) that damaged water systems.
Calendar Year 2022 Disaster Circuit Rider Technical Assistance Grants Program
The Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Disaster Circuit Rider Technical Assistance (CRTA) Grants Program provides grant funds to qualified organizations for providing on-site technical assistance on a national basis to help eligible communities mitigate damage caused by CY 2022 Presidentially declared disasters.
Circuit Rider Program
This program provides technical assistance to rural water systems that are experiencing day-to-day operational, financial or managerial issues.
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.
Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
This program helps remote Alaskan villages provide safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses.
Individual Water & Wastewater Grants
This program provides funds to households in an area recognized as a Colonia before October 1, 1989. Grant funds may be used to connect service lines to a residence, pay utility hook-up fees, install plumbing and related fixtures.
One Percent Loan Program for Distressed Communities
This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in distressed communities located in eligible rural areas where the primary purpose of the loan is to upgrade existing facilities or construct new facilities required to meet applicable health or sanitary standards.
Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program
This program helps qualified nonprofits and tribes create a revolving loan fund to increase access to clean, reliable water and septic systems for households in eligible rural areas.
Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects (Revolving Fund Program)
This program helps qualified nonprofits create revolving loan funds that can provide financing to extend and improve water and waste disposal systems in rural areas.
SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households
This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.
Solid Waste Management Grants
This program reduces or eliminates pollution of water resources by providing funding for organizations that provide technical assistance or training to improve the planning and management of solid waste sites.
Technical Assistance and Training Program – Manufactured Homes
This grant program supports improved sustainability of water and waste services related to manufactured homes.
Technical Assistance and Construction for Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions (TAC-RWTS) Grant Pilot Program
Grants may be made to eligible entities for the study, design, or construction of regional wastewater systems for historically impoverished communities that have had difficulty installing traditional wastewater treatment systems due to soil conditions.
Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks for Colonias
This program helps get safe reliable drinking water and waste disposal services to low-income communities that face significant health risks.
Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands
This program helps get safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal services to low-income communities that face significant health risks.
Water & Waste Disposal Loans & Grants
This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees
This program helps private lenders provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in rural areas.
Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants
This program assists low-income communities with initial planning and development of applications for USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal direct loan/grant and loan guarantee programs.
Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants
This program helps qualified, private nonprofits provide technical assistance and training to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; helps applicants prepare applications for water and waste disposal loans/grants; and helps associations improve the operation and maintenance of water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.
Resources
- RD Apply Customer User Guide
- EPA Cybersecurity Tools:
