Priority will be given to public entities in areas with less than 5,500 people, and to projects that restore a deteriorating water supply, or improve, enlarge, or modify a water facility or an inadequate waste facility. Also, preference will be given to requests which involve the merging of small facilities and those serving low-income communities. Guaranteed Loans may be made for the same purpose as direct loans, and are made and serviced by lenders such as banks and savings and loan associations. Water and Waste Disposal Grants are made for the purpose of reducing water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable level for users of the system. The grants may be made, in some instances, for up to 75 percent of eligible project costs.
Eligible applicants are the same as for loans.
Assistance may be provided to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems, to improve the operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities, and to assist associations in preparing applications for water and waste disposal facilities. Their purpose is to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources and improve planning and management of solid waste facilities. Assistance may be provided to enhance operator skills in operations and maintenance, identify threats to water resources, and reduce the solid water stream. The assistance is provided at no charge and may be requested by officials of rural water systems or by Rural Development personnel. It complements supervisory assistance provided by Rural Development personnel.