Training and Technical Assistance (TA) Program for Rural, Small, and Tribal Wastewater Systems
- Grant Program Overview
- 2025 Selected Applicants
- How to Request Technical Assistance
- Historical Funding
Grant Program Overview
The Clean Water Rural, Small, and Tribal Technical Assistance (RST TA) grant program was authorized by the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and codified under Section 104(b)(8) of the Clean Water Act. The program provides technical assistance and training to support rural, small and Tribal wastewater system operations and management practices, making them more effective and supporting EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment. The Clean Water RST technical assistance providers:
- Assist rural, small, and Tribal municipalities and governments in securing financing and funding they need to support infrastructure improvements, and
- Support rural, small, and Tribal wastewater treatment systems – centralized and decentralized – build their technical, managerial, and financial capacity to operate their systems well, protect water quality, and maintain compliance.
Services are available to municipalities and treatment systems nationally in all 50 states, the U.S. territories, and for Tribes.
2025 Selected Applicants
On April 29, 2025, EPA announced the selection of six organizations to receive a total of $49 million in technical assistance funding under the Clean Water Act. This funding is designated to assist communities in addressing critical challenges related to wastewater management and water quality.
Priority Area 1 - Acquisition of Financing and Funding: These applicants will help rural, small, and Tribal communities plan for and access funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other sources.
- Rural Community Assistance Partnership
- National Rural Water Association
- Southwest Environmental Finance Center
Priority Area 2 - Protection of Water Quality and Compliance Assistance: This funding will help rural, small, and Tribal communities improve their technical, managerial, and financial capacity and maintain compliance.
- Rural Community Assistance Partnership
- National Rural Water Association
- Southwest Environmental Finance Center
- Alaska Municipal League
- NEIWPCC
Priority Area 3 - Tribal Wastewater Systems: This area provides training and technical assistance to tribes across all areas of their Clean Water Infrastructure.
Priority Area 4 - Decentralized Wastewater Systems: More than one in five households in the United States rely on septic systems and other decentralized systems, and this priority area focuses on assistance to those communities.
- Rural Community Assistance Partnership
- National Rural Water Association
- Pacific International Center for High Technology Research
For more information, please review the following resources:
- Frequent Questions for Training and Technical Assistance Grant (pdf)
- FY 2024 Training and Technical Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
How to Request Technical Assistance
Communities may request technical assistance support through the EPA’s Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) Request Form.
Communities may also directly contact the current RST TA grantees to request training and technical assistance:
- Rural Community Assistance Partnership
- National Rural Water Association
- Southwest Environmental Finance Center
- Hudson Valley Regional Council
- Tennessee Water Resources
- New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC)
- Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Alaska Water Infrastructure Finance Navigation Center
- Pacific International Center for High Technology Research