The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) mission is to enhance the quality of life and improve economic opportunity in rural communities by providing financing for the basic infrastructure of modern life.
The CY 2022 Disaster Water Grants Program aims to support communities by offering grants to qualified entities for the repair and development of water infrastructure systems affected by events in CY 2022 that resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration. The grants focus not only on repairing damaged infrastructure but also on enhancing the systems' capacity and resilience to mitigate future risks. Infrastructure covered includes drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater management systems serving eligible communities. Eligible applicants are public bodies, not-for-profit organizations, tribes, or prefabricated home organizations managing community-based systems. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to legally operate and maintain the facility, ensure its continued availability at reasonable rates, manage the facility even if a third party is contracted, and possess the required technical, managerial, and financial capabilities. They should also have no delinquent federal debts or outstanding judgments to repay federal debt.