Sources of Technical and

Financial Assistance for

Small Drinking Water

Systems
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606M)

EPA 816-K-02-005

www.epa.gov/safewater

July 2002

Printed on recycled paper
Note: This document does not substitute for EPA regulation, nor is this document regulation itself. Thus, it cannot impose legally binding

requirements on EPA, states, or the regulated community, and may not apply to a particular situation based upon the circumstances.

A Quick Reference to the Guide

Sources of Technical and Financial Assistance for Small Drinking Water Systems .................. 1

Technical Assistance

National Rural Water Association (NRWA) ..................................................................................... 3

Web site: www.nrwa.org

Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)............................................................................. 5

E-mail: rcap@rcap.org

Web site: www.rcap.org

National Environmental Services Center (NESC) .......................................................................... 7

E-mail: webmaster@mail.estd.wvu.edu

Web site: www.nesc.wvu.edu/

EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline .................................................................................................... 9

E-mail: hotline-sdwa@epa.gov

American Water Works Association (AWWA) ................................................................................ 9

Web site: www.awwa.org
Financial Assistance

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) ............................................................................ 10

Web site: www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf.html

Rural Utilities Service (RUS)............................................................................................................ 12

E-mail: water@rus.usda.gov

Web site: www.usda.gov/rus/

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant

Program............................................................................................................................................. 14

Web site: www.hud.gov and www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/

CoBank .............................................................................................................................................. 16

E-mail: webmaster@cobank.com

Web site: www.cobank.com
1

 of Technical and Financial Assistance for Small

 Water Systems


	






ddress some of the drinking water

 your small public water system (PWS),

help you get started.

f the brochure identifies major sources

sistance that are available to water

s. It provides contact information for

ater system has proper technical, mana

al capacity is key to the success of the

ch component complements the next to

ed water system capable of providing

ng water to its customers. Being aware

ces, such as technical and financial

ey element of 
	
.

e aware of these opportunities can

all capacity of a water system by access

stance from a technical assistance

curing or acquiring adequate funding to

astructure improvements.

each organization and describes the relationship eachhas with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).It also lists each organization’s mission statement andactivities, and provides real-world examples of how thisassistance has been used by small water systems toimprove protection of public health and to meet the objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
2

n provides the same type of information

ces of 


 assistance that are

water systems and rural communities.

emember that the list of assistance provid

not all-inclusive. Other sources of infor

ance exist at the national, regional, state,

se the information provided in this bro

 point in your search for help. Be sure to

rganizations you contact about

sources of assistance that may be

 to remember that this brochure pro

only. It is up to you, as a small PWS or

tact the various sources of technical or

e available. Be proactive–these agencies

exist to help you!
3

National Rural Water Association (NRWA)Address: 2915 South 13th Street

Duncan, OK 73533-9086

Telephone: (580) 252-0629Fax: (580) 252-4896E-mail: mail@nrwa.orgWeb site: www.nrwa.org

or specific State Association contacts visit www.nrwa.org/2001/members/assnlist.htm

he NRWA receives grants from EPA, as well as the U.S.

iculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and

onmental and health departments, to carry out its mis

WA’s mission is to support State Rural Water Associa

more than 20,000 water and wastewater systems as

State Association offers a wide variety of state-specific

s, and member benefits. Each provides training programs

ance in areas such as drinking water utility operation and

ddition, the State Associations have trained over 40,000

ater system personnel each year for two decades and

000 on-site technical assistance visits per year. The NRWA is a source of on-site assistance for small rural drinking water systems.

RWA

ESC

ther

CAP
4

e Associations offer a wide array of on-site

ssistance and educational programs in areas

ory compliance

r certification

d protection planning

tection

water protection

w/cross-connection control

ation

and flow measurements

with the help of the NRWA and State Rural

ciations, over 2,600 ground water protection plans have been adopted by local communities across

 and another 2,300 are in the process of being adopted.

Chlorination is one of the areas in which NRWA StateAssociations offer technical assistance to small drinkingwater systems.
5

Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP)Address: 1522 K Street, NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20005

Telephone: (202) 408-1273Fax: (202) 408-8165E-mail: rcap@rcap.orgWeb site: www.rcap.org

RCAP office information is listed on the next page.

CAP receives funding from EPA and RUS.

mission is to assist people in rural America to improve

n their communities.

provides training and technical assistance to help small

with safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, and solid

 RCAP National Office serves as the hub of a national

hat includes six affiliated regional RCAP organizations,

ers a multi-state area. This grassroots network draws

 of more than 180 field-based rural development profes

e training and technical assistance to help small rural

ve or remain in compliance with the SDWA and protect

r resources. Technical assistance includes facilities development, management and finance, opera

ance, planning and development, and on-site training workshops. Workshop topics include afford

hnologies, operation and management issues, operator training, and SDWA requirements.

Technical assistance from RCAP professionalscan help small systems protect their wells fromcontamination by livestock and other sources.

CAP

RWA

ESC

ther
6

 communities are often referred to RCAP by their state primacy agency for training and technical

 These communities’ water systems often face a wide range of challenges including old and poorly

facilities and equipment, unprotected wells, and a lack of disinfection or other standard practices.

echnical assistance provider can help a community address its specific needs.

ted through six regional affiliates:

AP, 218 Central Street, Winchendon, MA 01475

0 • Fax: (978) 297-2606 • E-mail: general@rhircap.org

ommunity Assistance Project, Inc., P.O. Box 2868, Roanoke, VA 24001

4 • Fax: (540) 342-2932 • E-mail: vwp@sercap.org

 Action Commission,Inc., P.O. Box 590, 109 S. Front Street, Fremont, OH 43420

1 • Fax: (419) 334-8919 • E-mail: glrcap@nwonline.net

rce Group, Inc., 2423 E. Robinson Ave., Springdale, AR 72764

3 • Fax: (501) 756-1905 • E-mail: mrounsavall@crg.org

e Program, P.O. Box 81, New Prague, MN 56071

4 • Fax (952) 758-4336 • E-mail: map@bevcomm.net

Assistance Corporation, 3120 Freeboard Drive, Suite 201, West Sacramento, CA 95691

4 • Fax (916) 447-2878 • E-mail: rcacmail@rcac.org
7

National Environmental Services Center (NESC)Address: West Virginia University

P.O. Box 6064Morgantown, WV 26506-6064

Telephone: (304) 293-4191 or (800) 624-8301Fax: (304) 293-3161E-mail: webmaster@mail.estd.wvu.eduWeb site: www.nesc.wvu.edu

ESC receives funding from Congress, EPA, and RUS. It is made up of four national environmental

 state program.

mission is to help small and rural communities prevent pollution and provide a cleaner, healthier

eir citizens.

e NESC organizations help small communities with drinking water, wastewater, solid waste man

ning needs. The organizations with drinking water program activities are as follows:

nal Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC) develops and delivers

er, wastewater, and solid waste training customized for small communities.

nal Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) assists small communities by collecting, developing,

ng timely information relevant to drinking water issues.

ESC

CAP

RWA

ther
8

nia Technical Advisory Program (WVTAP) is a collaborative initiative to support economic growth in

a with a commitment to clean water and community health.

dinates community drinking water and wastewater

 assessments by NESC staff or a cadre of na

ts. These comprehensive assessments provide

 solutions for present and future needs of the

rams produce four national quarterly publications:

nd wastewater magazines, a wastewater newslet

environmental training newsletter for a combined

than 75,000 readers. NESC also offers hundreds

low-cost brochures, booklets, books, manuals,

apers, and videos.

Often, systems lacking a safe, reliable water sourcemust develop alternative sources. Here, an operatordrills a well to access a new water source. NESCproduces several publications, including NDWC’s freenewsletter On Tap. On Tap offers articles and tipsfocusing on a variety of important source water issues.
9

EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791E-mail: hotline-sdwa@epa.gov

EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline is available to help the public, drinking water suppliers,and state and local officials understand the regulations and programs developed in accor

WA. This includes information about drinking water requirements, source water protection programs,

ion control programs, guidance, and public education materials. The Hotline also provides contact

ources such as state-certified labs and EPA regional offices.

Water Works Association (AWWA)

 W. Quincy Avenue

ver, CO 80235

) 366-0107 (Small Systems Helpline)

.awwa.org

ofit organization dedicated “to the promotion of public health and welfare in the provision of drinking

nable quality and sufficient quantity.” It is the largest organization of water supply professionals in

membership includes more than 4,000 utilities that supply water to roughly 180 million people in

offers an “online bookstore,” which contains a wealth of resources including archived issues of

e AWWA Small Utility Network, a problem solving/information service dedicated to small water

oll-free helpline for more information); and frequent technical workshops and conferences.

ther

ESC

CAP

RWA

**The Hotline can be reached Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST
10

WSRF

UD

oBank

US

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)Address: U.S. EPA

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NWWashington, DC 20460

Web site: www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf.html

ific state and regional contact information visit www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/contacts.html

PA administers this program through capitalization grants to the states.

6 SDWA Amendments established the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to make

o drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. EPA provides these funds to

of capitalization grants; states, in turn, provide low-interest loans to drinking water systems.

must make funds available to small systems and can establish provisions for disadvantaged com

as part of their DWSRF programs. Through its disadvantaged assistance program, a state may

subsidies such as principal forgiveness, or extend loan repayment periods to up to 30 years. The

also encourages the use of funds for programs that use pollution prevention to ensure safe drinking
11

DWSRF funding helps improve the quality ofdrinking water for small communities such asthis Alaska native village where drinking watermust be hauled from a community tap.

tes have developed programs to provide DWSRF loans

et-aside funds for source water protection projects.

ects include fencing cattle and other animals from sensi

restricting public access to critical areas in source water

reas, evaluating agricultural practices and providing

n best management practices, installing signs at bound

es or protection areas, and building structures to protect

by diverting contaminated runoff.
12

US

WSRF

UD

oBank

Rural Utilities Service (RUS)Address: Mail Stop [see links to national and state staff below],

Room [see links to national and state staff below]1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, D.C. 20250

Telephone: See links to national and state staff belowE-mail: water@rus.usda.govWeb site: www.usda.gov/rus

fic mailing and contact information for the national office visit www.usda.gov/rus/water/natstaff.htm

fic mailing and contact information for state offices visit www.usda.gov/rus/water/states/usamap.htm

ot applicable.

he federal agency responsible for providing rural infrastructure assistance in electricity, water, and

ns. As a federal credit agency in the USDA, RUS provides leadership, loans, and technical guidance

 industries. The public-private partnership forged between RUS and these industries results in

n rural infrastructure development.

Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) provides loans, grants, and loan guarantees for drink

 sewer, solid waste, and storm drainage facilities serving up to 10,000 persons in rural areas and in

Public bodies, non-profit organizations, and federally recognized Indian tribes may qualify for assis

akes grants to nonprofit organizations to assist rural communities with water system technical assis13

 WEP obligated $1.2 billion in direct loans and grants to fund 968 projects to develop water and

osal facilities in rural areas.

des funding for on-site technical assistance to help ensure cost-effective operation of rural water

US has assisted rural water systems, via contracting, with day-to-day operational, financial, and

nt problems. The assistance is

no charge and may be re

officials of rural water systems

Development personnel. It

ts supervisory assistance pro

ural Development personnel.

are also used to create unique

 opportunities between nonprofit

ciations and tribal governments.

ch as these help individual

eet pressing needs for high

king water while benefitting low

mmunities.

RUS works with rural communities and with tribal governments to providehigh-quality drinking water to remote villages such as this one atop a mesa.
14

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentCommunity Development Block Grant Program

Address: 451 7th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20410For specific contact information visit: www.hud.gov/assist/contactus.cfm

Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455Web site: www.hud.gov

For specific state contact information visit: www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/

ot applicable.

artment of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) mission is to provide a decent, safe, and sani

able living environment for every American. HUD creates opportunities for homeownership; provides

 for low-income persons; works to create, rehabilitate, and maintain the nation’s affordable housing;

’s fair housing laws; helps the homeless; spurs economic growth in distressed areas; and helps local

their development needs.

rovides Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) to states, which distribute grants to small

unties. Since 1975, about $82 billion has been allocated for this purpose. For the past few years,

has been available annually. The primary purpose of the CDBG program is to improve communities

nt housing, healthy living conditions, and economic opportunities—all principally for lower-income

nded by CDBGs must clear two hurdles. First, the project must be one the law considers “eligible.”

y must either benefit lower-income people, or help to prevent or eliminate “slums and blight.”

UD

US

WSRF

oBank
15

gh its Community Development Block Grants, provides small rural water systems with the funds neces

ove compliance and overall drinking water quality. In the past, systems have used HUD grants to meet

deral regulations by: developing new water sources; improving treatment techniques; constructing

wells, backup wells, and pump stations; and replacing distribution system pipes.

Among the uses of HUD Community Development Block Grants isfunding the replacement of pipes that distribute drinking water tothe customers of small rural systems.
16

oBank

UD

US

WSRF CoBank

National Office: P.O. Box 5110

Denver, CO 80217

Telephone: (303) 740-4000 or (800) 542-8072, ext. 4310E-mail: webmaster@cobank.comWeb site: www.cobank.com

For regional contact information visit www.cobank.com/find/cebgoffices.html

ot applicable.

g lender to some of America’s most successful busi

6, CoBank specializes in cooperative, agribusiness,

rm credit association financing. It provides services

throughout the United States. The Bank is owned by

proximately 2,600 U.S. agricultural cooperatives, rural

nd energy systems, agricultural credit associations,

ses that serve rural America.

tly, CoBank loans money to 100 water and wastewater utilities in the United States. CoBank pro

o water and wastewater systems in unincorporated areas or systems in incorporated towns with

 people. Loans can be used for a variety of activities including debt refinancing, new construction,

n existing system, system acquisitions (assets), water rights purchases, and interim construction

nimum loan size is $1 million and the term will normally not exceed 20 years.
17

ovides funds to systems in unincorporated areas and systems in

s of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants to make improvements in

ment and system components. Using CoBank funding, systems

ved water quality with the addition of treatment technologies,

me softening. Systems have also used the funding to make inter

improvements, including the addition of storage towers, control

ydraulic systems, and new distribution lines to reach more cus

Standpipes such as this one are anexample of the types of projects tobenefit small drinking water systemsthat are eligible for CoBank funding.
18

ides

a series of Simple Tools for Effective Performance

s for small drinking water systems. The currently

cuments can be obtained from EPA by calling the

er Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 and requesting the

ublication number. To check on the availability of STEP

below as under development, go to www.epa.gov/

s/ssinfo.htm.

 NOW

g Water Act (SDWA) Regulation Overview Brochure for Small

mmarizes SDWA regulations that currently exist, are proposed, or are under development, and which

 small water systems. The brochure emphasizes how the regulations relate to each other. It explains

pproach to protecting against microbial and chemical risks and how SDWA regulations fit into this

 The brochure also emphasizes how most small systems can achieve compliance through process

more efficient system management. Publication number EPA-816-R-02-004

ms Guide to the Total Coliform Rule (TCR)

designed to help small systems understand the TCR and the mandatory monitoring required under

book provides sample worksheets to help systems organize and track TCR monitoring data, and

ate follow-up actions should monitoring show a positive presence of coliform. Publication number

7A
19

e STEP and Small Entity Compliance Guide

gned to help systems understand and achieve compliance with the Arsenic rule. The guide provides

s to help systems organize data, and provides guidance for small systems on their selection of

ance options. Publication number EPA 816-R-02-008A

VELOPMENT

s/Disinfection By-Products (D/DBP) Rule Workbook

r EPA 816-R-02-007A

anning Workbook

r EPA 816-R-02-005

gement Workbook

r EPA 816-K-02-006