EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

06/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/26/2026 10:21

EPA Invests in Making America Healthy Again with Announcement of $25 Million to Improve Drinking Water in Small and Rural Communities

EPA Invests in Making America Healthy Again with Announcement of $25 Million to Improve Drinking Water in Small and Rural Communities

June 26, 2026

Contact Information
EPA Press Office ([email protected])

WASHINGTON-Today, U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing more than $25 million in grant funding to improve drinking water infrastructure in small and rural communities. These grants will help Make America Healthy Again by providing communities across the nation with needed resources to make critical drinking water infrastructure upgrades, combat exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), remove sources of lead, and address specific local drinking water challenges.

"Reliable access to clean, safe drinking water is essential for American communities to thrive and a top priority for the Trump EPA," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American is Pillar 1 of Administrator Zeldin's 'Powering the Great American Comeback' Initiative. Small and rural water systems often face disproportionate challenges when it comes to drinking water, and these grants will help them access needed resources to make important water infrastructure investments that will protect Americans from the dangers of PFAS and other harmful contaminants."

Approximately $25 million is available through the Small, Rural, and Tribal (SmaRT) Drinking Water Assistance Program. This grant program was established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act to help water systems provide clean, safe drinking water. The funding is available to states and territories, who are responsible for administering the grant funds and ensuring that the funds efficiently and effectively reach communities that need assistance with local water infrastructure upgrades or Safe Drinking Water Act compliance.

FY 2026 Small, Rural, and Tribal (SmaRT) Drinking Water Assistance Grant Allotments for States and Territories

State/Territories FY 26 Allocation
Alabama $367,000
Alaska $683,000
American Samoa $138,000
Arizona $449,000
Arkansas $333,000
California $1,594,000
Colorado $432,000
Connecticut $307,000
Delaware $171,000
District of Columbia $151,000
Florida $987,000
Georgia $647,000
Guam $159,000
Hawaii $174,000
Idaho $321,000
Illinois $698,000
Indiana $436,000
Iowa $344,000
Kansas $344,000
Kentucky $342,000
Louisiana $553,000
Maine $222,000
Maryland $348,000
Massachusetts $324,000
Michigan $644,000
Minnesota $378,000
Mississippi $448,000
Missouri $494,000
Montana $297,000
Nebraska $274,000
Nevada $288,000
New Hampshire $236,000
New Jersey $370,000
New Mexico $314,000
New York $1,039,000
North Carolina $741,000
North Dakota $205,000
Northern Mariana Islands $141,000
Ohio $639,000
Oklahoma $517,000
Oregon $415,000
Pennsylvania $732,000
Puerto Rico $524,000
Rhode Island $166,000
South Carolina $364,000
South Dakota $221,000
Tennessee $392,000
Texas $2,055,000
Utah $280,000
US Virgin Islands $176,000
Vermont $199,000
Virginia $451,000
Washington $562,000
West Virginia $290,000
Wisconsin $469,000
Wyoming $235,000

More information on this grant program and this year's allotments can be found on the SmaRT website. Tribal allotments for this program will be released separately.

Background

The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act establishes the SmaRT grant program - formerly known as Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities (SUDC) - to award funding to states, territories, and tribes to assist public water systems in meeting Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements.

EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published this content on June 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 26, 2026 at 16:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]