Federal grant programs / Department of Agriculture

Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities (10.760)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$2.7 billion
• Grant awards1,591
• Typical award$828,000
• Awarded in FY 2025$518 million
• Size rank135 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants, direct loans, guaranteed/insured loans

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $569 million in fiscal 2021 to $518 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 135th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 19% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 53 states and territories.

What the program funds

Provide loan and grant funds for water and waste projects serving the most financially needy communities. Financial assistance should result in reasonable user costs for rural residents, rural businesses, and other rural users.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

For Water & Waste Disposal loans and grants: Municipalities, counties, other political subdivisions of a State such as districts and authorities, associations, cooperatives, corporations operated on a not-for-profit basis, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other Federally recognized Indian tribes. The applicant must: (1) be unable to finance the proposed project from its own resources or through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms; and (2) have the legal authority necessary for constructing, operating, and maintaining the proposed facility or service, and for obtaining, giving security for, and repaying the proposed loan. Assistance is authorized for eligible applicants in rural areas of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. For Water & Waste Disposal loan guarantees: Federally regulated lending institution with the legal authority, financial strength and sufficient experience to operate a successful lending program. Other non-regulated lending institutions may also be approved by the Agency.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funds may be used for the installation, repair, improvement, or expansion of a rural water facility including distribution lines, well pumping facilities and costs related thereto, and the installation, repair, improvement, or expansion of a rural waste disposal facility including the collection, and treatment of sanitary, storm, and solid wastes. Eligible and ineligible expenses associated with the preceding are outlined in 7 CFR 1780. No maximum loan amount is established by statute. The maximum term on all loans is 40 years or the facility's useful life, whichever is greater. The term is also restricted by state statute.;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply

Award range and average, in the agency's words

(Direct Loans/Guaranteed/Insured Loans) $58,000 to $9,900,000. Average $3,293,168. (Grants) $15,000 to $28,434,598. Average $1,949,525.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2026: Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of: Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal Solid waste collection, disposal and closure Storm water collection, transmission and disposal

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 57% of the money, nonprofits 6.6% and tribes 0.6%.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.