With ongoing risks of natural disasters threatening reliable water supply throughout California, districts serving small communities are encouraged to review a newly open federal grant opportunity to mitigate water emergencies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Rural Development’s Fiscal Year 2022 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant aims to assist rural communities “prepare for or recover from and emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.” Eligibility is limited to local government agencies serving a city, town, or area with a population of 10,000 or fewer with an average household income less than the state’s median household income level of $75,235.
Projects eligible for consideration under this program must be disaster mitigation-oriented with the intent to prevent services disruptions during emergencies. USDA lists potential hazards to include, but are not limited to, drought, flood, earthquake, disease outbreak, and chemical spills. A federal disaster declaration is not required for a project to be eligible.
Key uses of grant funds include transmission line repair, maintenance, and construction of facilities for water sources, intake, and treatment. Up to $150,000 may be awarded for transmission line projects, and up to $1 million may be awarded for water sourcing and treatment. Matching funds from federal, state, local, private, and/or non-profit agencies are encouraged but not required.
The USDA Rural Development office confirmed, through The Ferguson Group, that special districts meeting the population requirement may directly apply. Districts are encouraged to contact their USDA Rural Development’s local office prior to completing their applications, at (530) 792-5800. Contacting state offices is considered standard guidance for all prospective agencies. Full application details are available on USDA’s “RDApply” and may be accessed at this link.
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