The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the first Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the recently created Real Water Technical Assistance (RealWaterTA) initiative. The NOFO makes $30.7 million available to support small and rural communities safeguard critical water sources. Applications are due by May 17.
The RealWaterTA program will supplement technical assistance and training initiatives centered around small drinking water and wastewater systems and to provide private well owners with the tools to improve water quality. These small and rural systems are among the most frequently impacted by inadequate resources, personnel and infrastructure despite composing more than 90% of existing drinking water systems.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, nonprofit private universities and colleges and public institutions of higher education. The agency anticipates that it will distribute up to five awards to help small and rural communities access essential services, including engineering and design expertise, operational support, workforce development and financial management.
Recipients will be able to use their share of the funding to advance training and technical assistance efforts for select purposes, ensuring that:
- Small public water systems achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
- Small public water systems support compliance across a wide variety of managerial and/or financial topics.
- Small publicly owned wastewater systems and communities strengthen local water resources for areas served by onsite-decentralized wastewater systems.
- Private well owners improve their drinking water quality.
The EPA launched the RealWaterTA initiative in March to course correct how previous administrations approached rampant issues impacting water and wastewater systems across the nation. The program narrowed the scope of eligible projects, prioritizing efforts to align technical assistance with at-risk communities with the greatest need for federal support.
Photo by Jose Rodriguez Ortega from Pexels
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