Emergency Community Water Assistance

Administered By: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development

This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

Who Can Apply?

• Rurally located public bodies

• Nonprofit organizations

• Federally recognized tribes

• Applicants must show that a major decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within two years of the date of the application. Grants are also awarded when a significant decline in quality and quantity of water is imminent. 

What Qualifies as an Emergency? NOTE: A federal disaster declaration is not required.

• Drought or flood

• Earthquake

• Tornado or hurricane

• Disease outbreak

• Chemical spill, leak or seepage

• Other disasters

Eligible Areas: The area to be served must also have a median household income less-than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas. Contact your local RD office for details.

• Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less

How Can Funds be Used?

• Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply

• Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant)