EPA to Assist Small Water, Wastewater Systems

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award up to $12.7 million for projects to provide training and technical assistance to small public water systems, small publicly-owned wastewater systems and communities served by onsite or decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners. More than 97% of the nation's 157,000 public water systems serve fewer than 100,000 people, and more than 80% of these systems serve fewer than 500 people. Many small systems face challenges in providing reliable drinking water and wastewater services that meet federal and state regulations. These challenges can include a lack of financial resources, aging infrastructure, management limitations and high staff turnover.

EPA expects to award four to nine cooperative agreements to:

• Provide training and technical assistance to small public water systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA);
• Provide training and technical assistance to small public water systems on a wide range of managerial and/or financial subjects to achieve and maintain compliance with the SDWA; or
• Provide training and technical assistance to small publicly-owned wastewater systems, communities served by onsite/decentralized wastewater systems and private well owners to help improve water quality.

The deadline for submitting an application is Sept. 16, 2013.

For more information, visit http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/sdwa/smallsystemsrfa.cfm.

Source: EPA