Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems

Capacity Building Program Management for Drinking Water Systems

Each state has an approved program for ensuring technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity in public water systems. The documents and tools below contain information for use by state program management.

On this page:

  • Memorandums for Reporting and Rule Changes
  • Guidance Documents and Best Practices 
  • Compendiums of State Capacity Development Strategies

Memorandums for Reporting and Rule Changes

Reporting Criteria for Annual State Capacity Development Program Implementation Reports (pdf) (1.73 MB, June 2005)
A memorandum regarding reporting criteria for Annual State Capacity Development Program implementation.

2023 State Capacity Development Program Reports to the Governor (pdf) (295.46 KB, May 11, 2023)
This updated memorandum is to reiterate this SDWA requirement to submit a triennial Report to the Governor and provide an updated reporting criteria that now reflects the changes made by AWIA.

Documentation of DWSRF Program Withholding Decisions for State Capacity Development Strategies and Need for Program Coordination (pdf) (410 KB, March 17, 2023)
This memorandum reminds EPA Regional Capacity Development coordinators and DWSRF staff about the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Capacity Development strategy approval process and reiterates key coordination actions to ensure staff have the information they need to award capitalization grants and, if necessary, withhold funds if a state does not meet SDWA requirements for the development and implementation of Capacity Development strategies.

Implementation of Capacity Development Program - Related Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments in the America's Water Infrastructure Act (pdf) (238.67 KB, December 5, 2019)
This memorandum describes the approaches and methods for asset management promotion and training that are consistent with the 2018 America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), Section 2012 requirements.

Capacity Development Attachments 1-3 (pdf) (2.77 MB, March 8, 2021)
This set of worksheets was developed to guide States and Regions to identify strengths and weaknesses in the Capacity Development strategy and ensure that the SDWA and AWIA requirements are met.

Update to the Implementation of Capacity Development & Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Programs to Reflect the New Enforcement Policy and Enforcement Targeting Tool (pdf) (862.77 KB, March 2012)
Memorandum from the director of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water to EPA Regional Water Division Directors to provide updated policy on how EPA and the states will implement the Capacity Development and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs to reflect the new Enforcement Response Policy and the Enforcement Targeting Tool.

Guidance Documents and Best Practices

  • Handbook for Capacity Development: Developing Water System Capacity under the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended in 1996 (816-R-99-012)
    A handbook regarding Capacity Development and developing water system capacity under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  • Guidance on Implementing the Capacity Development Provisions of the 1996 SDWA Amendments (816-R-98-006)
    This guidance is the result of a thorough stakeholder consultation process initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC).
  • Assessing Water System Managerial Capacity (816-K-12-004)
    This document was developed to provide ideas on assessing managerial capacity for those involved in the Capacity Development Program, including EPA Headquarters staff, EPA Regional staff and state staff. In addition, this document may be informative to the staff of other programs (e.g., Drinking Water State Revolving Fund) who help public water systems (PWSs) attain and maintain technical, managerial and financial (TMF) capacity.
  • Re-Energizing the Capacity Development Program: Findings & Best Practices from the Capacity Development Re-Energizing Workgroup (816-R-11-004)
    The findings and best practices from the Capacity Development Re-Energizing Workgroup.

Compendiums of State Capacity Development Strategies 

  • State Programs to Ensure Demonstration of Technical, Managerial and Financial Capacity of New Water Systems (816-R-01-018)
  • State Strategies to Assist Public Water Systems in Acquiring and Maintaining Technical, Managerial, and Financial Capacity (816-R-01-019)

Return to top of page. 

Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems

  • About Capacity Development
  • About Operator Certification
  • About Water System Partnerships
  • About Asset Management
Contact Us About Building the Capacity of Drinking Water Systems
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on July 23, 2024
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.