The Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water grant program supports small public water systems (PWS) in operations and maintenance to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). 

The 1996 amendments of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) provide a framework for states and water systems to work together to protect public health. By law, every state has a Capacity Development Program to assist public water systems in building technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capabilities (sometimes referred to as “capacity”). Additionally, provisions of the SDWA Section 1452(a)(3) have a requirement for PWSs to demonstrate TMF capability in order to receive loan assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Without TMF capabilities, States are not permitted to provide PWSs with loan assistance unless the system has agreed to make the necessary changes in operation to ensure that it has the TMF capabilities to comply over the long term.

Aside from enhancing eligibility for DWSRF funding, ensuring TMF capabilities of PWSs is essential to ensuring PWSs reliably deliver safe drinking water and protect public health. Strong TMF capabilities are necessary for systems to maintain or attain compliance with the SDWA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) and state regulations.  

The grant program also assists small publicly-owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems to improve operational performance and sustainable operations over the long term, improving public health and water quality. Additionally, the grant program provides technical assistance to private well owners to protect their drinking water supply and improve water quality. 

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education (IHEs), and nonprofit private universities and colleges. Selected applicants are expected to provide direct technical assistance and training to assist small drinking water systems, small publicly-owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners.