The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced $90 million in funding aimed at helping rural, small and tribal water systems meet drinking water and wastewater requirements.
The funding includes $60 million for the Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) program and $30 million for tribal water infrastructure through a partnership with the Indian Health Service. The grants are intended to ease compliance challenges for smaller systems, which often lack the staffing and resources needed to maintain and upgrade infrastructure while managing daily operations.
RealWaterTA, the larger of the two efforts, focuses on helping systems maintain compliance and improve long-term performance. The program supports both traditional and innovative infrastructure, provides targeted technical assistance, and works to strengthen technical, managerial and financial capacity. It also aims to bolster the water workforce, improve access to funding, reduce inefficiencies and deliver measurable results.
Many rural systems rely on aging infrastructure and have historically been underfunded. EPA officials say the program will help communities identify needs, apply for funding and connect with technical experts through agency staff and partner providers.
Workforce shortages are another concern. According to the National Rural Water Association, more than 60% of water operators are expected to reach retirement eligibility within the next decade.
Eligible applicants for RealWaterTA include local governments, utilities and community water systems, as well as tribes, states, territories and nonprofit organizations.
The additional $30 million in tribal funding will support projects such as expanding access to centralized drinking water and wastewater systems, upgrading aging infrastructure, reducing contaminants and replacing failing sewage collection and treatment systems. EPA officials say the collaboration with the Indian Health Service is intended to accelerate improvements in tribal communities.
The funding builds on broader federal investments in water infrastructure and is part of an ongoing effort to help smaller and underserved systems meet regulatory standards and maintain reliable service.
Photo by Mark Stebnicki from Pexels
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