USDA Rural Development currently lists the Individual Water & Wastewater Grants program as open. Applications are accepted year-round through the applicant’s local USDA Rural Development office. USDA does not publish a national submission clock time for this program, and no current Grants.gov opportunity is listed for this household-level application path.
Purpose and community health relevance
This program helps eligible households in qualifying Colonias obtain or use safe community water and wastewater services. Funds may support service-line extensions to a residence, utility connection charges, plumbing connections, limited plumbing fixtures, small bathroom construction or partitioning, closure of abandoned septic tanks or wells when needed to protect health and safety, and related residence improvements necessary to use the water or waste disposal system.
Eligibility
The program is available only in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. The residence must be in an area recognized as a Colonia before October 1, 1989 and located in a qualifying rural area. Applicants must own and occupy the dwelling, provide evidence of ownership, have total taxable household income below the applicable U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guideline, and have no delinquent federal debt.
Funding
USDA states that cumulative lifetime assistance to any individual under this program may not exceed $5,000. The current national program page does not state a matching-fund requirement.
Application and governing requirements
Applications are accepted year-round through the local USDA Rural Development office. The governing authorities identified by USDA are 7 CFR Part 3550, Subpart C and HB-1-3550, Appendix 6. Before applicant-specific action, this federal workflow should verify current household income limits, Colonia designation, rural eligibility, ownership and occupancy documentation, federal-debt status, local forms, and any state-specific processing requirements.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 76/100. The program has direct rural community-health and sanitation relevance but is geographically limited and restricted to individual household applicants.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The published program does not establish a clinical device, telehealth, or remote examination procurement pathway.
Dr. Miltie direct applicant or vendor fit: 0/100. The direct applicant is an eligible individual household owner-occupant. No legitimate direct federal Dr. Miltie application or vendor path is established under the published structure.
Routing: keep applicant-specific evaluation within this federal workflow for Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas only when an independently verified qualifying household or partner need is identified.
Official source: USDA Rural Development Individual Water & Wastewater Grants.