The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $25.5 million in grant funding aimed at helping small, rural and Tribal communities tackle wastewater infrastructure challenges and strengthen compliance with federal environmental regulations.
The funding will be awarded to technical assistance providers that support communities facing operational, financial and infrastructure-related difficulties in managing wastewater systems. Applications for the program will remain open until 14 August 2026.
The initiative forms part of EPA’s Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) programme, launched earlier this year to coordinate water and wastewater technical support around areas such as engineering and design services, operational assistance, workforce development and financial management.
“We are using our RealWaterTA initiative to support water systems using proven, best-practice approaches that will most effectively address local needs. This $25.5 million in new funding will accelerate progress and deliver real results,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer.
According to EPA, the funding is intended to help communities identify and address their most urgent wastewater-related needs. Activities may include support for water quality compliance, training on infrastructure management and operational best practices, assistance with federal funding applications, and the development of reliable long-term infrastructure solutions.
The agency noted that many small and rural wastewater systems continue to face significant challenges, including ageing assets, workforce shortages, rising operating costs and shrinking customer bases. Tribal communities are among those expected to benefit from the programme, which seeks to strengthen the technical, managerial and financial capacity of wastewater utilities.
Established under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, the Rural, Small and Tribal Clean Water Technical Assistance Grant Program is designed to improve the sustainability and resilience of small wastewater systems while supporting public health and environmental protection objectives. EPA reports that more than $102 million has been awarded through the programme to date.
