$12.7 million in grants to aid smaller drinking, wastewater systems

In an effort to improve operations and practices for private well owners and small-scale drinking and wastewater systems, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded four grants worth $12.7 million.

Training and technical assistance will be provided to water system staff to enhance operations and management procedures, boost system sustainability and enhance protection of the environment and public health, EPA said in a news release.

“Ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans, whether they live in a small town or a big city, is a priority for EPA and these grants will help smaller systems in communities across the country,” Joel Beauvais deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water, said in the release.

EPA said a $1.8 million grant was to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a $1.7 million grant was awarded to thel Rural Community Assistance Partnership to educate private drinking water well owners on protecting their drinking water supply and improving quality. A $1.2 million grant was awarded to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership to boost operational performance at small publicly owned wastewater systems and decentralized wastewater systems; and $4 million grants were awarded to the National Rural Water Association and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership to help small public water systems throughout the U.S.