Why It Matters
Some rural communities across the U.S. lack access to drinking water or wastewater utilities. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report published June 23 found that 28 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs exist to help these communities, yet the fragmented structure of that assistance actively works against the people it is meant to serve.
The Big Picture
Lack of access to safe drinking water or treated wastewater poses risks to public health. Some rural unserved communities rely on private wells and septic or onsite systems, which carry contamination risks. Yet communities seeking water infrastructure funding must apply for multiple grants from various federal and state sources, each with different application requirements, funding timelines, and restrictions on how money can be used. Delays with one funding source can jeopardize others. One community awarded a federal grant did not receive the funding in time to secure a matching state grant.
USDA and EPA signed a 2017 joint memorandum outlining best practices for states to help rural communities access financial assistance, including streamlining applications and increasing coordination among funding partners. As of the report's publication, neither agency had collaborated to update or monitor that memorandum. GAO made three recommendations, all currently open and unimplemented.
Expert Recommendations
Recommendations direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of EPA, respectively, to regularly update and monitor the 2017 joint memorandum, in collaboration with each other and in consultation with states. Recommendation 3 directs the EPA Administrator to develop and monitor guidance or other resources ensuring its water infrastructure technical assistance providers are aware of local capacity and incorporate local knowledge when working with rural communities.
EPA generally agreed with all three recommendations and described plans to address them. USDA disagreed with its recommendation to collaborate with EPA on updating the memorandum. GAO stated it continues to maintain that USDA should work with EPA to better enable rural communities to address challenges with accessing financial assistance.
The Bottom Line
Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) requested the GAO review in 2023, according to Agri-Pulse. GAO reviewed USDA and EPA program documents and data, interviewed federal agency officials and officials from 10 selected states, and conducted site visits with rural unserved communities in three of those states and one Tribe. The report includes a photo of homes without wastewater services in Alabama and West Virginia in 2024.
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article