Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) Information
- WaterTA and Other EPA Technical Assistance Initiatives
- WaterTA Webinars and Presentations
- Request WaterTA for Your Community
- WaterTA Community Stories
- Resources for WaterTA Providers
- Additional Financial Resources
WaterTA and Other EPA Technical Assistance Initiatives
Learn about the EPA's various WaterTA Initiatives.
Who can receive WaterTA services?
- Local governments/communities
- Drinking water utilities/systems
- Wastewater utilities/systems
- Stormwater utilities/systems
- States, Tribes, territories
- Non-governmental organizations
EPA WaterTA aims to assist communities with applications for federal funding, quality infrastructure, and reliable water services in partnership with drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities and local government. WaterTA cannot provide direct assistance to federal facilities or individuals/individual households.
Does the EPA offer other technical assistance services and initiatives?
EPA is rolling out more general technical assistance under its Thriving Communities initiatives to build foundational capacities within community-based nonprofits and their partners, such as local and Tribal governments, to address a range of environmental and public health issues. Services will include:
- Training and assistance on writing grant proposals
- Navigating federal systems such as Grants.gov and SAM.gov
- Effectively managing grant funds
- Community engagement
- Meeting facilitation
- Translation and interpretation services for limited English proficiency (LEP) participants
EPA is also coordinating technical assistance with other federal agencies through the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network.
WaterTA Webinars and Presentations
Access past and upcoming WaterTA webinars and presentations.
Request WaterTA for Your Community
If your community is facing drinking water, wastewater, or stormwater challenges, submit a request for no-cost, direct assistance today!
Click Here to Request Water Technical Assistance for Your Community
What can I expect after I submit a request?
- After you submit a request form, you will receive a confirmation email from WaterTA@epa.gov.
- You may also receive a follow-up email or call from EPA, a representative of EPA, or one of our technical assistance providers to clarify your interests and request more fully.
- EPA will review the request and respond with potential next steps as soon as possible, depending on the volume of requests we receive. Because many states also offer technical assistance services, EPA may share or discuss your request with the appropriate state agency in an effort to provide the best, most timely assistance available. Requests from Tribal communities may be shared with the Indian Health Service to coordinate assistance.
Please note not every request may be offered technical assistance, and participation in this or other EPA technical assistance initiatives does not guarantee funding through the State Revolving Funds or other initiatives.
What if I have a question about my home’s water?
- For questions about your drinking water, contact your water utility and/or state drinking water agency.
- If you think you may have a lead service line or lead pipes in your plumbing, contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a "service line") is made from lead. Learn more about important steps you can take to reduce lead in drinking water.
- If you believe your utility is in violation of a drinking water or clean water standard, or have concerns about potentially harmful environmental activities in your community, report your concern.
- If you are not sure which resource best fits your need, you can email WaterTA@epa.gov on how to obtain assistance.
WaterTA Community Stories
Investing in America's Water Infrastructure StoryMap
In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) committed $50 billion to improving the nation's water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure StoryMap shares examples of how this funding is being used in communities across the country for both technical assistance and State Revolving Fund (SRF) projects. Note: The “Funding” section will indicate if the story involves a WaterTA community.
Rural Community Assistance Partnership Stories
The stories linked to below were created by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), spotlighting a handful of their WaterTA projects as part of EPA's Environmental Finance Center Grant Program. These stories showcase some of the communities receiving WaterTA, highlighting their water challenges, potential solutions, and hopes for the future.
US Water Alliance Stories
The stories linked to below were created by the US Water Alliance as part of EPA's Community Solutions Teams Pilot to expand direct WaterTA services and the Environmental Finance Center Grant Program.
Closing America's Wastewater Access Gap Initiative Story
Through the WaterTA Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap initiative, EPA is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), and local officials to bring wastewater solutions to isolated rural communities like Keystone and Northfork in McDowell County, West Virginia. This video was created by the WVDEP.
Resources for WaterTA Providers
EPA WaterTA providers work closely with communities to understand their water infrastructure needs and plan for the future. WaterTA providers are generally non-profit organizations and public and private non-profit universities and colleges. EPA has developed specific resources to support existing and prospective WaterTA providers.
Who can apply to be a WaterTA provider?
Eligible applicants are generally non-profit organizations and public and private non-profit universities and colleges. However, funding eligibility for technical assistance providers varies depending on the initiative. To receive ongoing updates, please sign up for EPA's Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center email list.
Memorandum: Implementation of WaterTA
The Implementation of EPA WaterTA Memorandum provides direction on how EPA's Office of Water manages WaterTA and supports WaterTA providers in their work with communities across the country.
Additional Financial Resources
Numerous EPA initiatives and resources are available to further support utilities, municipalities, and Tribes in maintaining regulatory compliance and building technical, managerial, and financial capacity.
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Resources
- Learn about what types of projects can be funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
- State CWSRF websites and contacts
- Learn about what types of projects can be funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).
- State DWSRF websites and contacts
- To learn more about the SRFs and new SRF funding made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA):
- Visit the following webpages:
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - This includes multiple IJJA resources.
- Investments from EPA Under the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act - These interactive maps allow users to explore the historic investments made in the health of American communities. They represent current progress and impact of the work. With unprecedented funding to support our national infrastructure, EPA is working to improve people’s health and safety, help create good-paying jobs, and strengthen communities throughout the country. These data are updated daily and can be downloaded.
- View the following webinars:
- SRFs and IIJA Funding - This webinar describes how IIJA funding can help communities improve their water and wastewater infrastructure. (February 2023)
- IIJA: Improving Water Infrastructure for Communities - This webinar describes how SRF programs work, how IIJA funding can help communities address water infrastructure challenges, and resources available for information and technical assistance. (July 2022)
- SRF 101 Learning Module - This Water Finance Center learning module provides an introduction to the SRF program. (last updated in 2018)
- Visit the following webpages:
Water Finance Resources
- Water Finance Clearinghouse - A database of financial assistance sources available to fund a variety of watershed protection projects.
- Water Finance Webinars - The Water Finance Center includes recordings of past webinars and announcements for upcoming events.
- Learn about water affordability, including addressing water affordability with the DWSRF.
Drinking Water Grants
Learn about EPA's various drinking water grants.