Rural Decentralized Water Grants

Full Title:
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.

Summary#

This bill changes a program in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act that gives money to private nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits use the money to make loans and subgrants to people in rural areas so those people can build, repair, or service their own household water wells and individually owned decentralized wastewater systems.

The bill sets who gets subgrants and who gets loans based on household income compared to the median nonmetropolitan household income in the area (using the most recent decennial census). Households with combined income under 60% of that median are eligible for subgrants. Households with income at or above 60% are eligible for loans. The bill raises a per-project dollar limit from $15,000 to $20,000. It allows subgrants for decentralized wastewater systems to include extra funds to pay for a performance warranty that lasts at least 5 years. It also extends a date in the statute from 2023 to 2031.

What it means for you#

  • Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants to make loans and subgrants for household wells and decentralized wastewater systems in rural service areas.
  • Low-income households (under 60% of the local nonmetropolitan median income) can get subgrants to help pay for these systems.
  • Other households can get loans for the same work.
  • Individual project funding may be up to $20,000.
  • Subgrants for decentralized wastewater systems may cover the cost of a performance warranty of at least 5 years.
  • The program’s statutory date is extended to 2031.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total program costs or budget effects. The text of the bill increases the per-project amount from $15,000 to $20,000 and allows additional funds to cover 5-year performance warranties for some wastewater systems, both of which could affect program spending but contain no cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.