Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
The objective of the ECWAG program is to assist the residents of rural areas that have experienced a significant decline in quantity or quality of water, or in which such a decline is considered imminent, to obtain or maintain adequate quantities of water that meets the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
- Municipality/Township Government
- Local Government Consortium
- Nonprofit Organization
Eligible applicants include (1) Public bodies or governmental entities such as municipalities, counties, districts, authorities, and other political subdivisions of a State, (2) nonprofit organizations such as associations, cooperatives, and private nonprofit corporations, (3) Native American Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes. Projects must serve rural areas, excluding any city or town having a population greater than 10,000.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Applications received will be reviewed and scored for funding priority by the RD State office. Applications must compete on a national basis for available funds.
Dependent upon funding and whether the application is considered complete. A determination on a complete application will be made within 15 federal working days. If complete, an eligibility and funding determination will be issued within 45 working days.
Program details & compliance
Description
This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.
Mission Categories
Primary: Community Water Supply
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Grants may be used for existing systems which have experienced an emergency event (such as drought, earthquake, hurricane or tornado): (1) to alleviate a significant decline in the available quantity or quality of water by constructing new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and other sources of water; (2) To extend or repair distribution waterlines, repair breaks, and pay for operation and maintenance items that remedy an acute shortage or significant decline in the quality or quantity of potable water; and, (3) To assist rural water systems comply with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act when noncompliance is related directly to a recent decline in quality of potable water.
Grants made to alleviate a significant decline in quantity or quality of water available from the water supplies in rural areas that occurred within two years of filing an application with USDA cannot exceed $1,000,000. Grants for repairs, partial replacement, or significant maintenance on an established system cannot exceed $150,000.
Restrictions
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)
Required Documentation
Evidence of legal and organizational capacity, and economic feasibility.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements