Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 66.442
- Grant awards
- 272 $3,060,345,212 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Small, Rural, and Tribal Drinking Water Assistance Grant Program (SmaRT)
- Assistance type
-
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 68-0103-0-1-304
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Environmental Protection Agency awards formula grants under CFDA 66.442 to assist small and disadvantaged communities with Safe Drinking Water Act compliance, with the most recent award issued October 1, 2026.
The program funds drinking water infrastructure improvements and technical assistance for underserved public water systems. Recent awards span research and testing for emerging contaminants—particularly PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—planning and design of treatment systems, treatment infrastructure construction, water system restructuring and consolidation, lead service line replacement, source water protection, private well remediation, household connections to public systems, operator training, and capacity-building for technical, managerial, and financial operations. A $33.5 million award to New Jersey addresses PFAS and emerging contaminants through planning, design, treatment, technical assistance, and public engagement. A $74.6 million award to Pennsylvania supports research, testing, planning, design, treatment, and source water activities for emerging contaminants. A $55.1 million award to Texas funds research, testing, planning, design, treatment, source water activities, water system restructuring, household access improvements, and technical assistance. Smaller awards fund discrete projects: lead service line inventory completion in South Dakota, water tank rehabilitation in California, new wells in Pennsylvania, and treatment system installation in Arizona.
All 272 grants in the portfolio are formula grants distributed to states, territories, and tribal entities. The program has accelerated—awards grew from 40 in 2022 to 65 in 2024. EPA regional offices administer the funding; EPA Region 4 leads by federal dollars obligated at $500.4 million across 27 awards, followed by Region 9 at $429.4 million across 24 awards. Combined federal dollars obligated total $3.06 billion across the program, with negligible non-federal cost-share ($3.08 billion combined). Award sizes range from $60 thousand to $83.7 million, with a concentration of large infrastructure and emerging-contaminant awards funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. No current open solicitations are identified in the source; applicants must contact the EPA regional office serving their state for application procedures and deadlines.
Objective and description
- Objective
The objective is to assist communities that are small or disadvantaged to comply with the Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA). Funding is awarded to states, territories, and Tribes/Tribal water systems, for projects/activities that are necessary for publi
- Description
Annual appropriations are focused on assisting public water systems in underserved, small and disadvantaged communities with meeting national drinking water requirements. Projects and activities are to assist public water systems in small and disadvantaged communities to provide support towards reduction and remediation of emerging contaminants.
Eligibility
- Beneficiary eligibility
Funds are provided to eligible applicants to carry out projects and activities needed for public water systems to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Eligible projects/activities for grant funding include, but are not limited to, the following: investments necessary for a public water system to comply with the SDWA; point of access or point of use treatment devices, service line replacements (regardless of pipe material or ownership of the property on which the service line is located); the development of an alternative drinking water supply in the case of an emergency; the development/replacement/rehabilitation of drinking water storage structures to maintain compliance and protect public health; the consolidation of a water system that is not for growth purposes; testing for unregulated contaminants; the connection of underserved communities to an existing water system; and planning activities and remediation. More information is available at https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/wiin-grant-small-underserved-and-disadvantaged-communities-grant-program-0. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA. Funding cannot be used for the purchase of land, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations. In addition funding cannot be used for operation and maintenance costs.
- Uses of assistance
Funds are provided to eligible applicants to carry out projects and activities needed for public water systems to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Eligible projects/activities for grant funding include, but are not limited to, the following: investments necessary for a public water system to comply with the SDWA; point of access or point of use treatment devices, service line replacements (regardless of pipe material or ownership of the property on which the service line is located); the development of an alternative drinking water supply in the case of an emergency; the development/replacement/rehabilitation of drinking water storage structures to maintain compliance and protect public health; the consolidation of a water system that is not for growth purposes; testing for unregulated contaminants; the connection of underserved communities to an existing water system; and planning activities and remediation. More information is available at https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/wiin-grant-small-underserved-and-disadvantaged-communities-grant-program-0. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA. Funding cannot be used for the purchase of land, easements, rights-of-way, and relocations. In addition funding cannot be used for operation and maintenance costs.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The terms of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This assistance listing is subject to intergovernmental review when proposed Federal financial assistance involves planning, design, or construction of drinking water storage facilities, distribution systems or other drinking water infrastructure. EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372-and-section-204. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c). NOTE: Applicants should consult their EPA point of contact regarding environmental review requirements.
- Application procedure
Issuing office will provide location of application procedure details as appropriate.
- Award procedure
The grant applications are reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office, and if approved, the funds are awarded to the recipient.
- Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines.
- Appeals
Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 272 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Of California Water Resources Control Board | $260,513,008 | 9% |
| 2 | Texas Water Development Board | $175,731,000 | 6% |
| 3 | New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection | $136,618,000 | 4% |
| 4 | NYS Department Of Health | $133,999,000 | 4% |
| 5 | Colorado Department Of Public Health & Environment | $131,374,000 | 4% |
| 6 | North Carolina Department Of Environmental Quality | $121,550,000 | 4% |
| 7 | Pennvest | $112,099,000 | 4% |
| 8 | Al Department Environmental Management | $105,776,000 | 3% |
| 9 | The State Of Ohio Office Of Budget And Management | $96,361,000 | 3% |
| 10 | Florida Department Of Environmental Protection | $90,489,000 | 3% |
10 of 75 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $266,251,512 |
| FY2025 | $940,212,938 |
| FY2024 | $975,887,392 |
| FY2023 | $823,111,469 |
| FY2022 | $22,289,000 |
| FY2021 | $20,188,000 |
| FY2020 | $12,404,902 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 66.442?
Assistance Listing 66.442 is Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program, a federal grant program run by Environmental Protection Agency.
What is the CFDA number for Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program?
Its CFDA number is 66.442: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 66.442 awarded?
272 grant awards under 66.442 have obligated $3,060,345,212 in federal funds to 75 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 66.442?
The recipients obligated the most under Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Small and Underserved Communities Emerging Contaminants Grant Program are State Of California Water Resources Control Board ($260,513,008), Texas Water Development Board ($175,731,000) and New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection ($136,618,000).
How much did 66.442 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 66.442 obligated $940,212,938 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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