Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants

State Rural Development offices

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants provide funds for eligible communities to prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

Qualified emergencies include:

• Drought
• Flood
• Earthquake
• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Disease outbreak
• Chemical spill, leak, or seepage
• Other disasters

Eligible applicants include:

• Rurally located public bodies, such as states, counties, cities, and local governmental entities
• Nonprofit organizations
• Federally recognized tribes

Eligible areas include:

• Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less
• Tribal lands in rural areas
• Colonias

Eligible areas must have a median household income that is lower than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas. A federal disaster declaration is not required to receive funding.

Applicants must show that a major decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within 2 years of the date of the application. Grants are also awarded when a significant decline in quality and quantity of water is imminent.

Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 are to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply.

Water source grants up to $1,000,000 are to construct a water source, intake, or treatment facility.

Applications may be submitted online through RD Apply. The program contact at the State Office may also accept hard copy applications.