Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 16 02
Apply for EPA OW OGWDW 16 02
- 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, 66.436.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2016 See the announcement including Section IV for additional submission 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 $8,005,000.00 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).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant 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 16 02) is a discretionary funding program offered through cooperative agreements. The purpose is to fund organizations that can deliver practical, nationwide training and hands-on technical assistance aimed at improving water quality and strengthening compliance capacity for smaller water and wastewater entities. The work is meant to support both Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) compliance for small public drinking water systems and Clean Water Act (CWA) water quality improvements connected to wastewater management and private well stewardship.
On the drinking water side, the central focus is helping small public water systems achieve and maintain compliance with SDWA requirements. In practice, that typically means assisting systems that often have limited staffing, technical expertise, or financial capacity to meet federal drinking water standards, monitoring and reporting obligations, treatment technique requirements, operator needs, and other regulatory responsibilities tied to providing safe, reliable drinking water. The goal is not simply short-term fixes, but building sustained capability so these systems can remain compliant over time.
On the wastewater and broader water quality side, the opportunity also targets training and technical assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems, communities that rely on onsite or decentralized wastewater systems (such as septic or clustered systems), and private well owners. This component aligns with CWA goals by aiming to reduce pollutant impacts, improve local water quality outcomes, and promote better management of wastewater and non-sewered sanitation approaches. Including private well owners recognizes that many households, especially in rural areas, depend on wells that fall outside standard public system regulation, yet still face contamination risks that can affect public health and local water resources.
A key feature of the announcement is that the training and technical assistance supported by this funding should be available nationally, not limited to a single state or region, and should be relevant to both rural and urban settings. The EPA also emphasizes that these services should be accessible to personnel of tribally owned and operated systems, signaling an intent to ensure tribal communities and utilities can benefit from capacity-building efforts that address their operational realities and regulatory needs.
Administratively, the EPA anticipated making about 9 awards under this announcement, with an award ceiling of $8,005,000. The funding is associated with CFDA numbers 66.424 and 66.436 and falls under the environmental funding activity category. Eligibility is listed as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full announcement (Section III.A), meaning applicants need to consult the detailed eligibility language to confirm whether their organization type and proposed approach qualify. The opportunity was created on August 16, 2016, with an original closing date of September 30, 2016, and applicants were directed to follow the announcement and Section IV for submission requirements and additional instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this EPA grant 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)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA OW OGWDW 16 02.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This is a discretionary funding program offered through cooperative agreements.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The purpose is to fund organizations that can deliver practical, nationwide training and hands-on technical assistance to improve water quality and strengthen compliance capacity for smaller water and wastewater entities.
Is the focus limited to drinking water, or does it include wastewater too?
It includes both. The work is intended to support Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) compliance for small public drinking water systems and Clean Water Act (CWA) water quality improvements connected to wastewater management and private well stewardship.
What kinds of activities are expected on the drinking water side?
The central focus is helping small public water systems achieve and maintain compliance with SDWA requirements. This commonly includes support related to meeting federal drinking water standards, monitoring and reporting obligations, treatment technique requirements, operator needs, and other regulatory responsibilities involved in providing safe, reliable drinking water.
Does the grant prioritize short-term fixes or long-term capacity?
The goal is not simply short-term fixes. The emphasis is on building sustained capability so small systems can remain compliant over time.
Who is considered the primary target audience for drinking water assistance?
Small public water systems, particularly those with limited staffing, technical expertise, or financial capacity to meet federal drinking water requirements.
What kinds of wastewater-related entities can be supported by the training and technical assistance?
The opportunity targets training and technical assistance for small publicly owned wastewater systems and for communities that rely on onsite or decentralized wastewater systems (such as septic or clustered systems).
How do private well owners fit into the scope of this opportunity?
Private well owners are included as part of the water quality component. The grant recognizes that many households, especially in rural areas, depend on wells that are outside standard public system regulation but can still face contamination risks affecting public health and local water resources.
How does this opportunity connect to the Clean Water Act (CWA)?
The wastewater and broader water quality component aligns with CWA goals by aiming to reduce pollutant impacts, improve local water quality outcomes, and promote better management of wastewater and non-sewered sanitation approaches.
Do services funded under this opportunity need to be offered nationally?
Yes. A key feature is that the training and technical assistance supported by this funding should be available nationally, not limited to a single state or region.
Is the training and technical assistance meant to apply to both rural and urban settings?
Yes. The announcement specifies that the services should be relevant to both rural and urban settings.
Does the opportunity address tribal water systems?
Yes. The EPA emphasizes that services should be accessible to personnel of tribally owned and operated systems, indicating an intent to ensure tribal communities and utilities can benefit from capacity-building efforts that reflect their operational realities and regulatory needs.
Approximately how many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about 9 awards under this announcement.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $8,005,000.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this funding opportunity?
The funding is associated with CFDA numbers 66.424 and 66.436.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under the environmental funding activity category.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the full announcement (Section III.A). Applicants need to consult that section to confirm whether their organization type and proposed approach qualify.
Where should applicants look for submission requirements and instructions?
Applicants were directed to follow the announcement and Section IV for submission requirements and additional instructions.
When was the opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on August 16, 2016, and the original closing date was September 30, 2016.
What makes this training and technical assistance "hands-on" according to the description?
The description emphasizes practical training and hands-on technical assistance, meaning the funded work is expected to go beyond general guidance and provide applied support that helps smaller systems strengthen compliance capacity and improve water quality outcomes.
What overall outcomes is EPA trying to achieve through this funding?
Overall outcomes include improved water quality, stronger compliance capacity for smaller entities, sustained SDWA compliance for small public drinking water systems, and CWA-aligned improvements tied to wastewater management, decentralized sanitation, and private well stewardship.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: Service Area Competition
Previous opportunity: Integration of Nationally Significant Landscapes in the Facility Management Software System
USGrants.org 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 16 02
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (EPA OW OGWDW 16 02) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation Apply for F16AS00414 Funding Number: F16AS00414 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $580,411 |
| Notice of Intent to Award: Lind Point Shared Use Path - Design Services for Trail Redevelopment Apply for P16AS00511 Funding Number: P16AS00511 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $83,757 |
| Notice of Intent to Award: Seagrass Die-Off and Recovery in Florida Bay: Research in Process and Restoration Apply for P16AS00513 Funding Number: P16AS00513 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $79,409 |
| Notice of Intent to Award: Benthic Habitat Mapping in Florida Bay and Associated Boating Guide Apply for P16AS00514 Funding Number: P16AS00514 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $51,595 |
| San Pasqual Reclaimed Water Project Phase III Apply for BOR LC 16 N014 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N014 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $185,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award - Holtville-Alamo Wetlands Construction Project Apply for BOR LC 16 N010 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N010 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Tribal Collaboration on Arizona Water Resource Management Project Apply for BOR LC 16 N023 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N023 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| Salton Sea Management Program Avian Habitat Study Apply for BOR LC 16 N024 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N024 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Water Hydrological Study for Tribal Lands Apply for BOR LC 16 N019 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N019 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $41,700 |
| Development of SNP markers for parentage assessment, and population genetics of razorback sucker Apply for BOR LC 16 N020 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N020 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $340,000 |
| Clean Vessel Act Apply for F16AS00399 Funding Number: F16AS00399 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Climate Resilient Enterprise and Innovation Design (CREAID) Apply for BAA 388 GCC 16 00001 Funding Number: BAA 388 GCC 16 00001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Environment Funding Amount: $30,000,000 |
| Delta Smelt Refuge Population and Culture Facility Renovation and Expansion Apply for BOR MP 16N027 Funding Number: BOR MP 16N027 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $5,895,752 |
| GREENLAND ICE SHEET SURVEY Apply for NWO CESI 15 Funding Number: NWO CESI 15 Agency: Department of Defense, Omaha District Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| HISTORICAL ANALYSIS Apply for NWO CESU 14 Funding Number: NWO CESU 14 Agency: Department of Defense, Omaha District Category: Environment Funding Amount: $47,000 |
| Digital Documentation and Condition Assessments of Threatened Archeological Sites in Everglades National Park Apply for NPS NOI 16 CESU 5678 Funding Number: NPS NOI 16 CESU 5678 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Preparing De Soto National Memorial for the Future: Stabilizing Eroding Archeological Sites through the Use of Living Shoreline Techniques Apply for NPS NOI 16 CESU 7690 Funding Number: NPS NOI 16 CESU 7690 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Stabilizing Eroding Archeological Sites through the Use of Living Shoreline Techniques Apply for NPS NOI 16 CESU 7691 Funding Number: NPS NOI 16 CESU 7691 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Seagrass Recovery Project at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida District Apply for NPS NOI 16 CESU 8615 Funding Number: NPS NOI 16 CESU 8615 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Monitoring Seagrass Resources of the Gulf Islands National Seashore Apply for NPS NOI 16 CESU 3693 Funding Number: NPS NOI 16 CESU 3693 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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
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.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "EPA OW OGWDW 16 02", 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.