Individual Water & Wastewater Grants

The Individual Water & Wastewater Grants program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development division. This program is specifically targeted at addressing the water and waste disposal infrastructure needs of residents in Colonias—communities situated along the U.S./Mexico border that were recognized as such before October 1, 1989. These communities often lack basic amenities such as potable water, sewage systems, or safe and sanitary housing. The goal of the program is to facilitate the use of community water and waste disposal systems by funding necessary infrastructure improvements at the individual household level. This grant program is restricted to four states: Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Eligible areas must be designated Colonias located in rural settings, defined as unincorporated areas or municipalities with populations of 10,000 or fewer. The Colonia designation must be documented by state or county authorities and determined based on deficiencies in infrastructure such as water, sewage, roads, or housing. Applicants must own and reside in a home located within a Colonia and demonstrate ownership. Additionally, total household taxable income must fall below the poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Applicants must also have no delinquencies on any federal debt. Funds from this program can be used for a variety of household-level infrastructure improvements. Eligible uses include extending service lines to a residence, connecting internal plumbing, paying utility hook-up fees, and installing necessary plumbing fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, commodes, water heaters, and outside spigots. Grants may also be used to construct or partition a bathroom area within a residence up to 48 square feet in size, close abandoned septic tanks and wells for health and safety purposes, and make modifications to a home that enable the use of a water or waste disposal system. All expenditures must be reasonable and approved by the agency. Importantly, funds cannot be used to repay existing debts or for costs deemed unreasonable. The maximum cumulative grant amount available to any individual household under this program is $5,000. This includes any combination of initial and subsequent grants. The program operates on a rolling basis and accepts applications year-round. There is no indication of a recurring or cyclical funding round, and deadlines are not fixed. All applications must be submitted through the applicant’s local USDA Rural Development office. There are no stated pre-application deadlines, letters of intent, or Q&A opportunities outlined in the current documentation. The program is governed by 7 CFR Part 3550, Subpart C and HB-1-3550, Appendix 6, which detail administrative and eligibility requirements. While there are no specific contacts listed by name, all application and inquiry processes are handled through local offices, and applicants are encouraged to initiate contact there. As this is a federal program operating under USDA Rural Development, it adheres to all applicable non-discrimination and equal opportunity statutes. The program remains an essential resource for infrastructure improvements in economically disadvantaged rural border communities.