Funding Assistance for Territories under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
The Territorial Program is a component of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. EPA is authorized to provide grants to improve drinking water infrastructure in the following U.S. territories:
- American Samoa
- Guam
- The Northern Mariana Islands
- The U.S. Virgin Islands
Eligible systems and projects
Community water systems and non-profit, non-community water systems are eligible for project funding. Some examples of projects are:
- Rehabilitation or development of drinking water sources
- Installation or upgrade of treatment or storage facilities
- Installation or replacement of transmission and distribution pipes
Funds may also be used to conduct project feasibility studies, engineering design, and project administration.
Program fund allotment method
EPA may allot up to 1.5 percent of the amount available for the DWSRF grants to territories for the program. Prior to fiscal year 2010, this allotment was 0.33 %. Each territory is guaranteed a minimum allotment which is the greater of $150,000 or 7.5 percent of the funds available for the program.
The funds are allotted by formula among the four territories based on:
- Population (5 percent)
- Geographical area (2.5 percent)
- The number of community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems (14 percent)
- The number of transient non-community water systems (3.5 percent)
- The “infrastructure needs” of the water systems in each territory as identified in the most current Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (75 percent)
Review the annual allotments for territories.
How are the funds managed?
The funds are managed by EPA’s offices in Region 2 (for the Virgin Islands) and Region 9 (for American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands).
How are grants awarded?
EPA may award a grant to either a territorial government or directly to a territorial public water system. If the grant is awarded to a territorial government, that government selects projects to fund.
Annual Report
Review EPA's 2017 CW & DW Territories & DC Annual Report and the 2021 CW and DW Territories and DC Annual Report (pdf)