Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting grant applications for the Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program, which aims to enhance the resilience of public water systems serving populations of 10,000 or more individuals. This program focuses on protecting drinking water infrastructure from natural hazards, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity threats through comprehensive planning, design, and implementation efforts. Eligible applicants must be public water systems meeting the population threshold, with projects targeting infrastructure improvements, emergency response planning, power backup systems, water supply diversification, and cybersecurity enhancements. The EPA will evaluate applications based on the specific resilience objectives outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), with a competitive review process that assesses the potential impact and comprehensiveness of proposed solutions. Key application deadlines include the submission due date of October 6, 2025, with anticipated award notifications projected for March 2026 and final awards in May 2026.

The grant opportunity offers a total funding pool of up to $9,500,000, with approximately six awards ranging from $1,187,500 to $2,375,000 distributed across two National Priority Areas: midsize communities (10,000-100,000 population) and large communities (100,000+ population). The program is structured as a competitive grant with an anticipated project duration of approximately 180 days. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, and the EPA will conduct the selection process in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. The funding is authorized under Section 1459F of the Safe Drinking Water Act and will be administered by the EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, with the ultimate goal of strengthening critical water infrastructure systems against potential disruptions and threats.