Training and Technical Assistance for Small Systems Funding

Background

EPA annually awards Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small PWSs to Provide Safe Drinking Water grants. Funding for this program will be used for meeting technical, financial, and managerial needs at small public drinking water and wastewater systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act. It will also assist private well owners with improving water quality, including testing for PFAS contamination. Additionally, these investments can be used to address challenges with onsite wastewater management (e.g., septic systems).

Most Recent Funding Cycle

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $30.7 million in grant funding for three organizations to provide training and technical assistance that will improve water quality in small and rural communities across the country. This support helps ensure that every American has access to clean and safe water and advances the goals of Administrator Lee Zeldin’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative.

“Small and rural communities are the backbone of this great country, and it’s no secret that water systems serving these areas can face unique challenges with delivering clean and safe water that their communities rely on,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jessica Kramer. “This $30 million investment is another way EPA is delivering wins for rural America. Nationally recognized technical assistance providers will use this money to strengthen small and rural systems to protect water quality and support high-impact public health protection.” 

EPA anticipates awarding federal grants to these recipients after legal and administrative requirements are satisfied:

• National Rural Water Association (NRWA) – $9,100,000 to support small systems by providing training and technical assistance in technical, managerial, and financial capabilities, including rate-setting and fiscal planning. NRWA will also enhance technical capabilities when assisting in diagnosing and troubleshooting system operational and compliance-related issues and ensure that asset management programs are a standard operating practice. 
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) – $14,580,000 to provide technical, managerial, and financial training and technical assistance for operators, board members, and managers and to address drinking water regulatory compliance failures. RCAP will also work to ensure that wastewater systems improve treatment and adopt sustainable management practices, with a focus on financial sustainability. Additionally, RCAP will help to ensure properly maintained private drinking water wells. 
• Southwest Environmental Finance Center at the University of New Mexico – $7,020,000 to strengthen technical, managerial, and financial capability, including assisting with creation of asset management plans and assessing system financial health. The project will address operational, managerial, and financial challenges in small communities, as well as support for lead service line inventories and training on PFAS regulations and treatment.

Since 2012, this grant has provided over $200 million in funding to training and technical assistance providers. Training and technical assistance funding ensures providers are able to provide locally tailored assistance to communities. The funding contributes to ensuring communities have safe drinking water and that wastewater is responsibly managed. The selected technical assistance providers will help communities enhance their technical, managerial, and financial expertise in managing drinking water and wastewater. 

See press release. 

Program Implementation

Based on annual appropriations the agency competes awards to provide training and technical assistance to small water systems. Historically this has been competed to a range of applicants including nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges, and public institutions of higher education.

Visit here for historical funding information. 

For additional information contact: SmallSystemsRFA@epa.gov

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