Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAG)

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAG) is sponsored by USDA Rural Development. Provides grant funds to rural communities for projects to obtain or maintain adequate quantities of water that meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF The objective of the ECWAG program is to assist the residents of rural areas that have experienced a significant decline in quantity or quality of water, or in which such a decline is considered imminent, to obtain or maintain adequate quantities of water that meets the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

**Fiscal Year 2025:** Replace water line and appurtenances that were exposed due to excessive rainfall and flooding. The project involved boring a new 4-inch waterline beneath the river to re-establish a full-capacity, permanent crossing. Construct an emergency intake structure to prevent future intake obstructions during times of excessive precipitation.

Project also involved the replacement of high service pumps and raw water pump station wet well. This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. NATURAL RESOURCES - QM Community Water Supply _These funding amounts do not reflect the award amounts that are displayed on USASpending.

gov_ **This listing is funded for the current fiscal year. ** **Fiscal Year 2025:** Thirty-four projects were awarded to rural communities to help improve the quality and quantity of water that saw a decrease in availability caused by emergency events. Evidence of legal and organizational capacity, and economic feasibility.

2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government, Municipality or Township government (inclusive of cities, towns, boroughs (except in Alaska), and villages), Other Local Government Consortium, Regional Organization (Intrastate), or Other Local Government Combination, Eligible applicants include (1) Public bodies or governmental entities such as municipalities, counties, districts, authorities, and other political subdivisions of a State, (2) nonprofit organizations such as associations, cooperatives, and private nonprofit corporations, (3) Native American Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes.

Projects must serve rural areas, excluding any city or town having a population greater than 10,000. Private nonprofit institution/organization, Beneficiary eligibility is the same as applicant eligibility. Users of the applicant systems, which are previously described as public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, and federally-recognized Indian tribes.

Grants may be used for existing systems which have experienced an emergency event (such as drought, earthquake, hurricane or tornado): (1) to alleviate a significant decline in the available quantity or quality of water by constructing new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and other sources of water; (2) To extend or repair distribution waterlines, repair breaks, and pay for operation and maintenance items that remedy an acute shortage or significant decline in the quality or quantity of potable water; and, (3) To assist rural water systems comply with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act when noncompliance is related directly to a recent decline in quality of potable water.

Grants made to alleviate a significant decline in quantity or quality of water available from the water supplies in rural areas that occurred within two years of filing an application with USDA cannot exceed $1,000,000. Grants for repairs, partial replacement, or significant maintenance on an established system cannot exceed $150,000.

Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant) Preapplication coordination is required.

An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E. O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." 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.

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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

The proposed projects designed to serve a rural area with a population of 10,000 or less that has a median household income of not more than 100 percent of the statewide nonmetropolitan household income and had a significant decline in quantity of water available from private individually owned wells will be given priority.

Preference also will be given to proposed projects that will assist an established water system or remedy an acute shortage of quality water. The Rural Development State Director will rate applications on a point system and points received will be considered in selecting projects for funding. Applications received will be reviewed and scored for funding priority by the RD State office.

Applications must compete on a national basis for available funds. Dependent upon funding and whether the application is considered complete. A determination on a complete application will be made within 15 federal working days.

If complete, an eligibility and funding determination will be issued within 45 working days. An application determined ineligible may request a review of this decision with the National Appeals Division of USDA in accordance with USDA regulations at 7 CFR 11.

The following 2CFR policy requirements apply to this assistance listing: Subpart B, General provisions Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements Subpart E, Cost Principles Subpart F, Audit Requirements The following 2CFR policy requirements are excluded from coverage under this assistance listing: **Progress/Performance Reports :**The grantee will provide an audit report in accordance with §1780.

47 of part 1780. , Frequency: Determined at Time of Award Required to maintain records and accounts to assure funds are used for authorized purposes in accordance with 2 CFR 200. 334.

Retention Period: 3 Years **Guidelines and Information:** Domestic Assistance Program that uses Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA): Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants Number changed from 10.

440 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants