Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 26 01
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity titled "Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water" (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA OW OGWDW 26 01; CFDA: 66.424). The program is designed to strengthen the day-to-day operations and maintenance of small public water systems (PWS) so they can achieve and sustain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and reliably deliver safe drinking water over the long term. A central focus is improving the technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity of small systems, because those capabilities are closely tied to consistent regulatory compliance and overall protection of public health.
This opportunity builds on the 1996 SDWA amendments, which established a structure for states and water systems to work together to safeguard drinking water. Under SDWA, every state must run a Capacity Development Program aimed at helping systems build TMF capacity. The grant aligns with that requirement by funding organizations that can provide practical training and hands-on technical assistance that helps systems develop and maintain the skills, management practices, and financial planning needed for sustained compliance. In addition to being important for safe operations, TMF capacity also affects whether a system can access other critical funding. Specifically, SDWA Section 1452(a)(3) ties eligibility for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan assistance to a system demonstrating adequate TMF capability. If a system lacks TMF capacity, states generally cannot provide DWSRF assistance unless the system commits to operational changes that will build and maintain that capacity over time. In practice, the assistance supported by this grant can help systems remove barriers to DWSRF financing by improving readiness and long-term viability.
While the title emphasizes small public water systems, the scope also extends to wastewater and private well support. The program includes assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems and onsite or decentralized wastewater systems, with the goal of improving operational performance and making operations sustainable over the long term, which in turn supports public health and water quality outcomes. It also provides technical assistance to private well owners to help them protect their drinking water supplies and improve water quality, recognizing that many households rely on private wells that are not regulated the same way as public systems and therefore often need education, testing support, and guidance on risk reduction.
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education, and nonprofit private universities and colleges. Awardees are expected to deliver direct training and technical assistance services to the intended audiences (small drinking water systems, small publicly owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the EPA anticipates substantial involvement in the project during performance, such as coordination, guidance, or collaboration on key elements, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
The opportunity has an original closing date of May 13, 2026, and the EPA anticipates making about five awards. The listed award ceiling is $13,000,000. The program sits within the EPA's environmental assistance portfolio and is aimed at measurable improvements in compliance capability, operational reliability, and water quality protection through training, technical support, and capacity-building services delivered where small systems and well owners need them most.Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 26 01
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-13. (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 $13,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this EPA funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA OW OGWDW 26 01.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 66.424.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates the EPA expects substantial involvement during the project period. That involvement can include coordination, guidance, and collaboration on key elements of the work, rather than a fully hands-off relationship.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program is designed to strengthen the day-to-day operations and maintenance of small public water systems so they can achieve and sustain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and reliably deliver safe drinking water over the long term.
What is the central focus area for improving small system performance?
A central focus is improving technical, managerial, and financial (TMF) capacity, because TMF capabilities are closely tied to consistent regulatory compliance and protection of public health.
What does TMF capacity mean in this program context?
TMF refers to technical, managerial, and financial capacity. In this program, TMF capacity is treated as the practical combination of skills, management practices, and financial planning needed for sustained compliance and reliable, safe operations.
How does this program relate to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments?
This opportunity builds on the 1996 SDWA amendments, which established a framework for states and water systems to work together to safeguard drinking water and support capacity development.
How does the program connect to state Capacity Development Programs?
Under SDWA, each state must run a Capacity Development Program to help systems build TMF capacity. This grant aligns with that requirement by funding organizations that provide practical training and hands-on technical assistance to help systems develop and maintain TMF capacity for sustained compliance.
Which types of systems and audiences are intended to benefit from the funded work?
The intended audiences include small public water systems (drinking water), small publicly owned wastewater systems, onsite or decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners.
If the title focuses on small public water systems, why are wastewater systems included?
The scope explicitly extends beyond drinking water to include assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, with the goal of improving operational performance and making operations sustainable over the long term to support public health and water quality outcomes.
Are private well owners included in the scope of assistance?
Yes. The program includes technical assistance to private well owners to help protect drinking water supplies and improve water quality, including education, testing support, and guidance on reducing risks.
Why does the opportunity emphasize helping private well owners?
The description notes that many households rely on private wells that are not regulated the same way as public systems, which can create a need for education, testing support, and practical guidance to reduce water quality risks.
How can this grant-supported assistance affect a system's ability to obtain other funding?
TMF capacity can affect access to other funding. The opportunity notes that SDWA Section 1452(a)(3) ties eligibility for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan assistance to demonstrating adequate TMF capability.
What is the connection between TMF capacity and DWSRF eligibility?
If a system lacks TMF capacity, states generally cannot provide DWSRF assistance unless the system commits to operational changes that will build and maintain TMF capacity over time. Training and technical assistance supported by this grant can help improve readiness and remove barriers to DWSRF financing.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education, and nonprofit private universities and colleges.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
The eligibility list provided is limited to nonprofit organizations, public institutions of higher education, and nonprofit private universities and colleges. For-profit eligibility is not included in the information provided.
What are awardees expected to do if selected?
Awardees are expected to deliver direct training and technical assistance services to the intended audiences: small drinking water systems, small publicly owned wastewater systems and onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners.
What kinds of outcomes is the EPA aiming to achieve through this program?
The opportunity emphasizes measurable improvements in compliance capability, operational reliability, and water quality protection through training, technical support, and capacity-building services delivered where small systems and well owners need them most.
What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date is May 13, 2026.
How many awards does EPA anticipate making under this opportunity?
The EPA anticipates making about five awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling is $13,000,000.
What EPA program area or portfolio is this opportunity associated with?
The opportunity is described as being within the EPA's environmental assistance portfolio.
Is this program only about compliance, or also about long-term sustainability?
It is both. The program is framed around achieving and sustaining SDWA compliance while also strengthening day-to-day operations and maintenance so small systems can reliably deliver safe drinking water over the long term. Wastewater and decentralized systems are similarly supported with an emphasis on sustainable operations.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: Dworshak Natural Resource Training and Education
Previous opportunity: 2025 American Center Vientiane Small Grants Program Laos
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 26 01
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (EPA OW OGWDW 26 01) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Grants Apply for P26AS00020 Funding Number: P26AS00020 Agency: National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program Apply for P26AS00021 Funding Number: P26AS00021 Agency: National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Mysis, and Benthic Invertebrate Components Apply for EPA R5 GL2026 ZMB Funding Number: EPA R5 GL2026 ZMB Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $8,100,000 |
| Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Phytoplankton and Chlorophyll-a Components Apply for EPA R5 GL2026 PCA Funding Number: EPA R5 GL2026 PCA Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $3,600,000 |
| Farmer to Farmer 2025 Apply for EPA I R4 GAD 2025 FARMER Funding Number: EPA I R4 GAD 2025 FARMER Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "EPA OW OGWDW 26 01", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.