USDA Rural Development announced $40 million in Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants on September 28. Rural Utilities Service Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser said the awards will help ensure American families have access to efficient, reliable water and waste disposal services. The program helps qualified nonprofits prepare funding applications, train board members and operators, and improve daily operation and maintenance of rural systems.
The National Rural Water Association will receive $22 million to provide technical assistance, focusing on operations, maintenance, and energy efficiency. The Rural Community Assistance Partnership will receive $11 million to work directly with rural communities, including Colonias and Tribes, on interactive training, system mapping, asset inventory, and sustainable utility management. The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, a first-time recipient of USDA Rural Development funding, will receive $2.3 million to resolve problems in areas where centralized sewer systems are unavailable or unaffordable.