RDRUS-25-DWS: Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Rural Utilities Service notices from 2025.
Rural Utilities Service offered grants to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 10 awards worth $5.0 million in total. Applications closed on March 3, 2025.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed December 26, 2024. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Total funding$5.0 million
- Expected awards10
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDRUS-26-DWS2 | July 28, 2026 | Closed September 30, 2026 | Closed |
| RDRUS-26-DWS | October 1, 2025 | Closed December 1, 2025 | Closed |
| RDRUS-24-DWS | April 24, 2024 | Closed June 28, 2024 | Closed |
| RDRUS-23-DWS | May 10, 2023 | Closed June 10, 2023 | Closed |
| RDRUS-22-01-DWS | June 21, 2022 | Closed July 31, 2022 | Closed |
| RDRUS-21-01-DWS | June 4, 2021 | Closed July 19, 2021 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | January 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | March 3, 2025 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | June 30, 2025 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Information on eligibility is available at this website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/rural-decentralized-water-systems-grant-program
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (71% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The DWS Grant Program has been established to help individuals with low to moderate incomes finance certain costs of household water wells and individually owned decentralized wastewater systems that they own or will own. Grants are made to eligible nonprofit organizations to establish and maintain a revolving fund to provide loans and sub-grants to eligible individuals for individually owned water well systems and/or individually owned wastewater systems. Loan and/or sub-grant funds may be used by the individual to construct, refurbish, rehabilitate, or replace decentralized water well or wastewater systems. For water well systems, funds may be used up to the point of entry to a home, which is the junction where water enters into a home water delivery system after being pumped from a well. For wastewater systems, in lieu of the point of entry, the point of exit is substituted. The point of exit is the junction where wastewater exits out of the home wastewater collection system into the septic tank and drain field. DWS grant funds may be used by the nonprofit recipient to pay administrative expenses associated with providing DWS loans and/or sub-grants.
Who has won Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program (10.862) awarded $16.3 million across 33 grant awards, an average of $493,595 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Well Trust Inc | North Carolina | 5 | $8.7 million |
| Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. | Virginia | 3 | $1.7 million |
| Communities Unlimited Inc | Arkansas | 5 | $1.4 million |
| Golden Triangle Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc | Georgia | 5 | $1.3 million |
| Seven Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Area Inc | Georgia | 5 | $1.1 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is RDRUS-25-DWS still open?
No. It closed on March 3, 2025.
Who can apply for Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program?
Rural Utilities Service accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program?
Closed March 3, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
About $5.0 million in total across about 10 awards.
Who has won Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Water Well Trust Inc, Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc., Communities Unlimited Inc. The program made 33 awards worth $16.3 million in that time.
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