Opportunity Information: Apply for RDRUS 25 DWS
The Rural Decentralized Water System (DWS) Grant Program is a USDA Rural Utilities Service funding opportunity designed to help rural households with low to moderate incomes pay for essential, individually owned water and wastewater infrastructure. Instead of funding homeowners directly, the program awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations, which then set up and operate a revolving loan fund. That revolving fund is used to provide loans and, where allowed, sub-grants to eligible individuals who need help paying for household water well systems and/or decentralized wastewater systems such as septic systems.
A key feature of this program is that the money ultimately supports hands-on, property-level improvements. Eligible homeowners can use the financing to construct new systems, or to refurbish, rehabilitate, or replace existing systems that are failing, outdated, or no longer safe. For water well projects, the eligible scope generally runs up to the "point of entry" to the home, meaning the junction where water enters the house plumbing after being pumped from the well. For wastewater projects, the comparable boundary is the "point of exit," meaning where wastewater leaves the home plumbing and enters the septic tank and drain field system. In practical terms, the program is focused on the well and septic infrastructure serving the home, not the internal household plumbing.
Because the award goes to nonprofits running the revolving fund, the grant can also cover certain administrative expenses tied to delivering the loans and sub-grants. This matters because successful programs require staffing, underwriting, servicing, compliance work, and ongoing management to keep the revolving fund functioning and available to future applicants. The idea is to create a sustainable local financing mechanism that can keep helping households beyond the first round of assistance.
This is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RDRUS 25 DWS) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.862, with activity areas that touch agriculture, community development, environment, and health. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but in the program description the intended applicants are eligible nonprofit organizations; detailed eligibility requirements are provided on the USDA Rural Development program page: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/rural-decentralized-water-systems-grant-program. The application closing date is March 3, 2025, and the agency anticipates making around 10 awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that the cap is not specified in the summary record and applicants should rely on the full program guidance for award size, limits, and any matching or leveraging expectations.Apply for RDRUS 25 DWS
- The Rural Utilities Service in the agriculture, community development, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.862.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Rural Decentralized Water System (DWS) Grant Program?
The Rural Decentralized Water System (DWS) Grant Program is a USDA Rural Utilities Service funding opportunity that supports rural households with low to moderate incomes by helping pay for essential, individually owned water and wastewater infrastructure (such as household wells and septic systems). The program is designed to fund hands-on, property-level improvements that keep household water and wastewater systems safe and functional.
Who does the USDA award the DWS grants to?
USDA awards DWS grants to eligible nonprofit organizations (not directly to homeowners). These nonprofits use the grant funds to establish and operate a revolving loan fund that can provide financing to eligible individuals.
Do homeowners apply directly to USDA for this program?
No. The program does not fund homeowners directly. Homeowners would receive assistance through a revolving loan fund operated by an eligible nonprofit organization that receives the USDA grant.
What is a revolving loan fund in the context of this program?
Under this program, an eligible nonprofit sets up a revolving loan fund using the grant award. That fund is then used to make loans (and, where allowed, sub-grants) to eligible individuals for qualifying water well and/or decentralized wastewater projects. The intent is to create a local, sustainable financing mechanism that can continue helping households over time.
What types of household systems can be financed with support from the revolving fund?
The revolving fund can be used to support household water well systems and decentralized wastewater systems such as septic systems. The focus is on individually owned infrastructure serving a home.
What kinds of projects are eligible for support (new construction vs. repairs)?
Eligible homeowners can use the financing to construct new systems or to refurbish, rehabilitate, or replace existing systems that are failing, outdated, or no longer safe.
Does the program cover work inside the home (internal plumbing)?
The program is focused on the well and septic infrastructure serving the home, not the internal household plumbing. For water well projects, the eligible scope generally runs up to the "point of entry" to the home (where water enters the home plumbing). For wastewater projects, the comparable boundary is the "point of exit" (where wastewater leaves the home plumbing and enters the septic system).
What is meant by the "point of entry" for water well projects?
"Point of entry" refers to the junction where water enters the house plumbing after being pumped from the well. In general, eligible work is tied to the well system up to that boundary.
What is meant by the "point of exit" for wastewater projects?
"Point of exit" refers to the point where wastewater leaves the home plumbing and enters the septic tank and drain field system. In general, eligible work is tied to the decentralized wastewater system beyond that boundary (rather than interior plumbing).
Can grant funds be used for administrative and program delivery costs?
Yes. Because the USDA award goes to nonprofit organizations that run the revolving fund, the grant can cover certain administrative expenses tied to delivering loans and sub-grants. The description highlights the need for staffing, underwriting, servicing, compliance work, and ongoing management to keep the revolving fund operating and available for future applicants.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RDRUS 25 DWS.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The DWS Grant Program is listed as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.862.
What are the main activity areas associated with this funding opportunity?
The activity areas noted include agriculture, community development, environment, and health.
Who is eligible to apply as an applicant?
The listing shows the eligible applicant category as "Others," and the description indicates the intended applicants are eligible nonprofit organizations. Detailed eligibility requirements are provided on the USDA Rural Development program page for this program.
Where can applicants find the official program details and eligibility requirements?
Detailed eligibility requirements and official program information are provided on the USDA Rural Development program page: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/rural-decentralized-water-systems-grant-program
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is March 3, 2025.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making around 10 awards.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. This typically indicates that the cap is not specified in the summary record, and applicants should rely on the full program guidance for award size, limits, and any matching or leveraging expectations.
Does an award ceiling of 0 mean there is no limit?
The summary record showing an award ceiling of 0 generally signals that the limit is not provided in the listing summary. The appropriate place to confirm award size limits and any related expectations is the full program guidance referenced by USDA.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RDRUS 25 DWS) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Revolving Fund Program Apply for RDRUS 25 RFP Funding Number: RDRUS 25 RFP Agency: Rural Utilities Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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