The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces acceptance of applications under the Rural Decentralized Water Systems (DWS) program for 2023.
Donor Name: Rural Utilities Service
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/10/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $8,984,405.47
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Access to safe and reliable water and wastewater systems is vital to both human health and economic development. Due to a variety of factors, it is not always feasible to have public water or wastewater services run to each residence. In those instances, individual well water and septic systems may be the most technical and financially feasible means of providing access to safe and reliable water and wastewater services. The Rural Decentralized Water Systems (DWS) program was established to help individuals with low to moderate incomes finance the costs of household water well systems and individually owned decentralized wastewater systems that they own or will own.
Through the DWS Program, private non-profit organizations will receive grant funds to establish lending programs that will provide water well and septic system loans and sub-grants to individuals. Considerations should be given to technology that supports energy efficiency, resiliency, and water reuse. The individuals, as loan or grant recipients, may use the funds to construct, refurbish, and service their household well or decentralized wastewater systems up to the point of entry to the residence. In certain circumstances where ground well water contamination is documented, funding may be used to complete work beyond the point of entry to the residence.
Rural Development Key Priorities
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:
- Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
- Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
- Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
Funding Information
This program will have up to $8,984,405.47 available for FY 2023.
Performance Period
October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024
Eligibility Information
Nonprofits that have:
- Expertise and experience promoting the safe, productive use of individually-owned household water wells systems
- Legal authority to act as a lender
- Sufficient expertise and experience in lending activities
- Financial, technical and managerial capacity to comply with relevant federal and state laws and regulations
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
