Water Well Trust Receives $3.525M USDA Grant

Water Well Trust has received a $3.525 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finance household well and septic system work for eligible low-income rural homeowners nationwide. The funding, through USDA’s Decentralized Water Systems program, is the trust’s 13th USDA grant since 2014. Qualified homeowners may receive loans of up to $15,000 per project at 1% interest, repayable over as many as 20 years. Water Well Trust has participated in the drilling or rehabilitation of more than 974 water wells and 170 wastewater projects across 44 states.

Loans For Private Systems

The award will support construction and rehabilitation of household water wells and septic systems. It is intended for homeowners without public water or sewer service who may lack the financial resources to repair or replace private water and wastewater systems.

Eligible applicants must own and occupy the property as a primary residence for at least one year, have no access to a public water supply or sewer system, and have household income at or below 60% of their state’s median non-metropolitan income. The income assessment includes all household residents.

Properties must also be current on taxes and deemed rural by USDA.

Applying For Assistance

Homeowners can determine eligibility and begin the application process through the trust’s submission form. Loans may be used to construct or improve water wells and septic systems, with a maximum of $15,000 for each project.

The program focuses on households facing failed wells, unsafe drinking water, or inadequate wastewater systems where public infrastructure is unavailable.

Serving Rural Households

Water Well Trust was established by the Water Systems Council to assist Americans without dependable access to safe drinking water. An estimated 2 million Americans lack access to clean drinking water, excluding tribal communities, where one in 10 Indigenous Americans lacks access to safe water or basic sanitation.

The grant adds financing for decentralized household water and wastewater systems in rural communities served by the trust’s national program.