Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAG)

USDA Rural Development's Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants help eligible rural communities prepare for, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water, such as drought, flood, earthquake, hurricane, disease outbreak or chemical spill. A federal disaster declaration is not required.

Water transmission line grants are up to $150,000; water source grants (new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants) are up to $1,000,000. Applications are accepted year-round (October 1 to September 30).

Rurally located public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes serving rural areas and towns of 10,000 or fewer, tribal lands in rural areas, or colonias, with median household income below the state non-metropolitan median. Applicants must show a significant decline in water quantity or quality within two years, or that one is imminent.

Apply year-round online through RD Apply or through your local USDA Rural Development office. Contact a state program official (listed on the program page) before applying.