Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 21 03
The FY 2021 Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water opportunity is a discretionary EPA funding program that supports nationwide training and technical assistance (TTA) aimed at improving drinking water safety and water quality outcomes. EPA is seeking applicants to deliver practical, hands-on help to smaller and often under-resourced systems and communities so they can better meet federal requirements, reduce public health risks, and strengthen long-term system performance. The program is rooted in EPA's authorities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA), and it is explicitly aligned with EPA's FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, especially Goal 1 (A Cleaner, Healthier Environment) and Objective 1.2 (Provide for Clean and Safe Water). In other words, proposed projects must directly support cleaner and safer water by building real capacity in the field rather than funding construction or infrastructure alone.
The grant focuses on three national priority areas. First, it supports training and technical assistance for small public water systems to achieve and maintain SDWA compliance. A major emphasis within this area is helping systems improve their technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity, since weak governance, limited revenue, inadequate asset management, and staffing constraints are common reasons small systems struggle with compliance and reliability. Second, it supports training and technical assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems and for communities using onsite or decentralized wastewater approaches (such as septic systems or clustered decentralized treatment) to help improve water quality. This recognizes that failing or poorly managed wastewater systems can directly degrade local waterways and undermine drinking water sources. Third, it funds training and technical assistance for private drinking water well owners, a group that often does not fall under SDWA public system oversight and may lack routine monitoring, treatment knowledge, or resources to address contamination risks. Across all three areas, EPA highlights sustainability and resiliency as central goals, meaning assistance should help systems not only fix immediate problems but also develop the capacity to prevent future failures and respond to operational, financial, and environmental stressors.
A key requirement is that the assistance be made available nationally, serving both rural and urban communities, and that it be accessible to personnel of tribally owned and tribally operated systems. This signals that EPA is looking for applicants with the reach, expertise, and delivery methods to support diverse communities across regions, including those facing historic or structural barriers to technical support. Projects under this opportunity are funded through cooperative agreements, which typically involve a more active federal partnership than a standard grant, and the work is categorized under environmental assistance programs with CFDA numbers 66.424 and 66.436.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity number is EPA OW OGWDW 21 03. EPA anticipated making about 9 awards, with an award ceiling listed at $19,000,000. The opportunity was posted October 15, 2021, with an original closing date of December 3, 2021 (with the notice instructing applicants to confirm final timing details in Section IV of the full announcement). Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which indicates that applicants needed to consult the full funding announcement for specific eligibility categories and any limitations.
Overall, the program is designed to strengthen the ability of small water and wastewater systems and private well users to protect public health and water quality through targeted training, direct technical support, and capacity-building. EPA's stated priority is helping small systems build the technical know-how, management practices, and financial stability needed for long-term compliance, sustainability, and resiliency, rather than short-term fixes that do not address underlying operational and governance challenges.Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 21 03
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.424, 66.436.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 15, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 03, 2021 See Section IV of funding opportunity announcement for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $19,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY 2021 Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water program?
This is a discretionary EPA funding opportunity that supports nationwide training and technical assistance (TTA) to improve drinking water safety and water quality outcomes. It is designed to deliver practical, hands-on support that helps smaller and often under-resourced systems and communities meet federal requirements, reduce public health risks, and improve long-term performance.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The main purpose is to build real, on-the-ground capacity through training and technical assistance so that small systems and communities can achieve stronger compliance, sustainability, and resiliency. The program emphasizes strengthening long-term system performance rather than focusing on short-term fixes or construction-only approaches.
Which EPA authorities and strategic goals does this program align with?
The program is rooted in EPA's authorities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). It is explicitly aligned with EPA's FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, especially Goal 1 (A Cleaner, Healthier Environment) and Objective 1.2 (Provide for Clean and Safe Water).
What types of activities does EPA want applicants to deliver?
EPA is seeking applicants that can deliver training and technical assistance that is practical and hands-on. The intent is to help systems and communities improve compliance, reduce health risks, and strengthen system operations and management over time.
What are the three national priority areas under this opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on: (1) training and technical assistance for small public water systems to achieve and maintain SDWA compliance, (2) training and technical assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems and communities using onsite or decentralized wastewater approaches to improve water quality, and (3) training and technical assistance for private drinking water well owners.
Does the program support help for small public water systems with SDWA compliance?
Yes. One of the primary national priority areas is training and technical assistance for small public water systems to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
What is TMF capacity and why is it emphasized for small public water systems?
TMF stands for technical, managerial, and financial capacity. EPA emphasizes TMF because small systems often struggle with compliance and reliability due to challenges like limited staffing, weak governance, inadequate revenue, and lack of asset management. Strengthening TMF capacity is highlighted as a major way to support long-term compliance and performance.
Does the grant cover wastewater systems and decentralized wastewater approaches?
Yes. Another national priority area supports training and technical assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems and for communities that rely on onsite or decentralized wastewater approaches such as septic systems or clustered decentralized treatment.
Why does this opportunity include support for wastewater and decentralized systems?
EPA recognizes that failing or poorly managed wastewater systems can degrade local waterways and can undermine drinking water sources. Supporting wastewater and decentralized approaches is intended to improve overall water quality outcomes.
Does this opportunity include assistance for private drinking water well owners?
Yes. A dedicated national priority area funds training and technical assistance for private drinking water well owners, who are often not covered by SDWA public water system oversight and may lack routine monitoring and treatment knowledge or resources.
What does EPA mean by sustainability and resiliency in this program?
EPA highlights sustainability and resiliency as central goals. In this context, assistance should help systems and communities address immediate problems while also building the capacity to prevent future failures and respond to operational, financial, and environmental stressors.
Is the assistance required to be available nationwide?
Yes. A key requirement is that the assistance be made available nationally and serve both rural and urban communities.
Does the program need to be accessible to tribal systems?
Yes. The assistance must be accessible to personnel of tribally owned and tribally operated systems, indicating EPA is prioritizing delivery approaches that can support tribal communities and systems.
What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?
Projects under this opportunity are funded through cooperative agreements, which typically involve a more active federal partnership than a standard grant.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this funding?
The work is categorized under environmental assistance programs with CFDA numbers 66.424 and 66.436.
What is the opportunity number for this EPA funding?
The opportunity number is EPA OW OGWDW 21 03.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making and what was the award ceiling?
EPA anticipated making about 9 awards, and the listed award ceiling was $19,000,000.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was posted on October 15, 2021. The original closing date was December 3, 2021, with the notice advising applicants to confirm final timing details in Section IV of the full announcement.
Who was eligible to apply based on the listing provided?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This indicates applicants were expected to consult the full funding announcement for specific eligibility categories and any limitations.
Is this program focused on building capacity rather than funding construction or infrastructure alone?
Yes. The program description emphasizes building real capacity in the field through training and technical assistance, rather than funding construction or infrastructure by itself.
What kinds of systems and communities are the main focus of the assistance?
The program targets smaller and often under-resourced systems and communities, including small public water systems, small publicly owned wastewater systems, communities using onsite or decentralized wastewater approaches, and private drinking water well owners.
What outcomes is EPA aiming for through these cooperative agreements?
EPA aims to improve drinking water safety and water quality outcomes by helping systems meet federal requirements, reduce public health risks, and strengthen long-term technical, managerial, and financial performance, with an emphasis on sustainability and resiliency.
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