The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded the City of Waitsburg a $900,000 Project Grant on June 1, 2025, under the Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program (CFDA 66.448). The award funds the replacement of approximately 11,000 linear feet of failing galvanized steel water service lines with high-density polyvinyl chloride (PVC) service lines throughout the city's drinking water system. These infrastructure improvements will address existing water quality issues associated with dead-end lines, enhance fire suppression capabilities by meeting minimum system requirements, and increase overall system resilience to natural hazards. The project is scheduled for completion by October 30, 2028, with no subawards included in the assistance agreement.
This award directly benefits the residents of Waitsburg, a small rural farming community in Washington with approximately 1,300 residents. The project aligns with the federal program's objective to assist underserved and disadvantaged communities with populations under 10,000 in enhancing drinking water system resilience through critical infrastructure modifications that withstand natural hazards and maintain continuous service delivery.