Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- EPA-OW-OGWDW-26-01
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $13,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Environment
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Brianna Knoppow smallsystemsrfa@epa.gov
- <Unknown> support@grants.gov (800) 518-4726
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications for training and technical assistance cooperative agreements designed to improve water quality and enable small public water systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education, and nonprofit private universities and colleges that can deliver nationwide training and technical assistance services. Applicants must demonstrate programmatic capability and experience in capacity-building, provide a minimum 10 percent non-federal cost-share/match, and submit applications addressing only one of three designated National Priority Areas. The EPA will evaluate proposals based on the National Priority Area approach, national reach through face-to-face and remote training, environmental results and measurement capabilities, milestone schedule and budget, programmatic capability and experience, and past performance. Applications are due by May 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with anticipated award notification in August 2026.
Approximately $30.7 million will be distributed across five anticipated cooperative agreements with two-year project periods. National Priority Area 1 will provide up to three awards ranging from $8 million to $13 million each (approximately $26 million total) for small public water system compliance training; National Priority Area 2 will provide one award up to $1.25 million for wastewater systems training; and National Priority Area 3 will provide one award up to $3.45 million for private well owner technical assistance. Performance will occur nationally, with emphasis on reaching rural, small, and disadvantaged water systems through blended delivery methods combining in-person and remote training modalities across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and tribal communities.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water grant program supports small public water systems (PWS) in operations and maintenance to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
The 1996 amendments of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) provide a framework for states and water systems to work together to protect public health. By law, every state has a Capacity Development Program to assist public water systems in building technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capabilities (sometimes referred to as "capacity"). Additionally, provisions of the SDWA Section 1452(a)(3) have a requirement for PWSs to demonstrate TMF capability in order to receive loan assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Without TMF capabilities, States are not permitted to provide PWSs with loan assistance unless the system has agreed to make the necessary changes in operation to ensure that it has the TMF capabilities to comply over the long term.
Aside from enhancing eligibility for DWSRF funding, ensuring TMF capabilities of PWSs is essential to ensuring PWSs reliably deliver safe drinking water and protect public health. Strong TMF capabilities are necessary for systems to maintain or attain compliance with the SDWA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) and state regulations.
The grant program also assists small publicly-owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems to improve operational performance and sustainable operations over the long term, improving public health and water quality. Additionally, the grant program provides technical assistance to private well owners to protect their drinking water supply and improve water quality.
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education (IHEs), and nonprofit private universities and colleges. Selected applicants are expected to provide direct technical assistance and training to assist small drinking water systems, small publicly-owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners.
Update #1 ·
The Training and Technical Assistance grant program supports small public water systems (PWS) in operations and maintenance to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). It helps states and water systems build technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capabilities, which are required for loan assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Strong TMF capabilities are crucial for PWSs to reliably deliver safe drinking water and comply with regulations. The program also aids small publicly-owned and decentralized wastewater systems in improving operations and public health. Additionally, it offers technical assistance to private well owners. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, which provide direct training and support to these water systems and well owners.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| EPA-OW-OGWDW-26-01 Revised 2026 04 30.pdf | ||
| EPA-OW-OGWDW-26-01 - Final.pdf |
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar grant opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity