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Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants in Iowa

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Fact Sheet


What does this program do?

This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

Who may apply?

  • Rurally located public bodies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Federally recognized tribes
  • Applicants must show that a major decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within two years of the date of the application. Grants are also awarded when a significant decline in quality and quantity of water is imminent. 

What kind of event can qualify as an emergency?

  • Drought or flood
  • Earthquake
  • Tornado or hurricane
  • Disease outbreak
  • Chemical spill, leak or seepage
  • Other disasters

NOTE: A federal disaster declaration is not required.

What is an eligible area?

  • Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less -- check eligible addresses
  • Tribal lands in rural areas
  • Colonias

The area to be served must also have a median household income less-than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas. Contact your local RD office for details.

How may the funds be used?

  • Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply
  • Water source grants up to $1,000,000 for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water (water source up to and including the treatment plant)

Are matching funds required?

  • Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities are encouraged

How do we get started?

  • Applications for this program are accepted year round, 
    online through RD APPLY or through your local RD office.
  • Program resources are available online (forms, guidance, certifications, etc.).

Who can answer questions?

What governs this program?

  • Code of Federal Regulation, 7 CFR 1778
  • Section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps prevent damage or restore households and business' access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.

Simplified Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG)

To be eligible to complete the Simplified Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) application process, the need for additional direct loan or grant funding from USDA, Rural Utilities Service, to complete the proposed project must not be anticipated. If Water and Waste Disposal loan or grant funds are needed in combination with requested ECWAG funds to resolve the emergency, all applicable application requirements and a full underwriting pursuant to 7 CFR 1780 will be necessary.

To begin the process of applying for a Simplified ECWAG, complete and submit the following documents to your local Rural Development Office. Please use this as a checklist and submit with the listed applications documents:

  • SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance
  • SF 424D, Assurances
  • SAM.GOV registration is required for all applicants applying for federal assistance
  • Organizational Documents/Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, including all amendments (Nonprofit Organizations Only)
  • Public bodies please contact your local Rural Development Office for guidance on documentation of organization and legal authority
  • Documentation of population and median household income of the area to be served
  • A description of the nature of the emergency and documentation to support when it occurred
  • Exhibit A, Simplified engineering report,
  • Exhibit B, Environmental report and certification,
  • Most recent Fiscal Year's Audit or Year-End Financial Report with Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Forms RD 442-2 and RD 442-3 or similar format may be used)
  • Current Fiscal Year's Operating Budget for Enterprise (Form 442-2 or similar format may be used)
  • A certification from the applicant or its attorney regarding any insurance coverage, any claims made to an insurance company, FEMA or other agency
  • Exhibit C, ECWAG Combined Assurances and Certification form
  • If the applicant has cash resources available, the applicant must justify, in writing, why the cash funds should not be used, in lieu of the requested grant funding, to fund the proposed project.

Non-Simplified Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG)

If Water and Waste Disposal loan or grant funds are needed in combination with requested ECWAG funds to resolve the emergency, the non-simplified application procedures will be followed.

To begin the process of applying for a Non-Simplified ECWAG, complete and submit the following documents to your local Rural Development Office. Please use this as a checklist and submit with the listed applications documents:

  • SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance
  • SF 424D, Assurances
  • SAM.GOV registration is required for all applicants applying for federal assistance
  • Organizational Documents/Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, including all amendments (Nonprofit Organizations Only)
  • Public bodies please contact your local Rural Development Office for guidance on documentation of organization and legal authority
  • Documentation of population and median household income of the area to be served
  • A description of the nature of the emergency and documentation to support when it occurred
  • A Preliminary Engineering Report:
    • See the Engineering Tab for resource information and guidelines.
  • An Environmental Report:
    • Environment Assessments are prepared by Engineer or Applicant Representative. (Early submittal recommended. Funding cannot be determined until environmental review is complete.)
    • Environmental Assessment Worksheet
    • Helpful Information for Completing Environmental Assessments
  • Most recent Fiscal Year's Audit or Year-End Financial Report with Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Forms RD 442-2 and RD 442-3 or similar format may be used)
  • Current Fiscal Year's Operating Budget for Enterprise (Form 442-2 or similar format may be used)
  • A certification from the applicant or its attorney regarding any insurance coverage, any claims made to an insurance company, FEMA or other agency
  • Exhibit C, ECWAG Combined Assurances and Certification form
  • If the applicant has cash resources available, the applicant must justify, in writing, why the cash funds should not be used, in lieu of the requested grant funding, to fund the proposed project.

NOTE: Please select your state in the dropdown menu above to find the state office contact information and speak to a program specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you time in completing your application.

National Architect Requirements:

There are no other architect, engineering or environmental requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above. 

State Engineering Requirements:

Preliminary Engineering Report Guidelines

Contract Documents

Construction Document Forms

State Environmental Requirements:

Environmental Assessments

Air Quality

Project emissions, including those created by potential secondary beneficiaries, shall be examined for conformance to the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency's National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Iowa has two "non-attainment" areas. The following link from EPA lists all the nonattainment areas: air quality

For questions contact Air Quality Helpline with Iowa DNR: (877) AIR-IOWA (247-4692).
If the proposal will emit large quantities of air pollutants, contact your Rural Development loan specialist and provide the information from Iowa DNR's Air Quality Section. Specialists will review the information to ascertain the level of environmental review required.

To determine emissions from other facilities in the project area check the EPA website at www.epa.gov/echo/, then:

1. Click on "Air data", in the Facility Characteristics check the "other minor" box.


2. In the Geographic Location boxes click on region 7, State IOWA, and fill in county name, and search. Print out page for file.

Air permits can be viewed at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/air/prof/const/const.html

Approved Coastal Zone Management Area
Iowa does not have any coastal zone management areas. http://coast.noaa.gov/czm/mystate/

Coastal Barrier included in Coastal Barrier Resources System Natural Landmark
Iowa does not have any coastal barrier areas. http://www.fws.gov/cbra/Maps/index.html#LocatorMaps.


Natural Landmark
The National Park Service web site can be found at: www.nps.gov. Under “Find a Park,” click on Iowa to locate national monuments, national historic sites, and historic trails.

Place printout from the website in the file.


Prime Forest Lands
There are no national prime forest lands in Iowa. http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/forest-maps.shtml

For State Forests: Check the DNR website at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateForests.aspx.

Place a printout from the website in the file.

Prime Rangeland
Iowa does not have any prime range land areas. http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/forest-maps.shtml.


Sole Source Aquifer Recharge Area
Iowa does not have any designated sole source aquifers as referenced at the EPA website www.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater/pubs/qrg_ssamap_reg7.pdf


Wild or Scenic Rivers
Iowa does not have any Wild and Scenic River as defined under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16 U.S.C. 1271) as referenced at the National Park Service website www.rivers.gov.

The State of Iowa and the Nationwide Rivers Inventory have designated several areas as protected waterways. View the list at http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/nri/states/ia.html.

 

Wilderness (designated or proposed under the Wilderness Act)

Iowa has no national wilderness areas.

You may access information national wilderness areas and related state areas at the following sites:

WILDERNESS AREA: www.wilderness.net

The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Park Service are charged with stewardship of Wilderness Area lands while providing for appropriate human use and enjoyment. To find out more about these special places, see the site above, which is jointly managed by the University of Montana and the four federal agencies that manage wilderness areas. This is an interactive site where you may type in an address to determine if there is a wilderness area within the area of a proposed project.

• In the left column select “Maps, Data and Images” / select Maps / Under “Online Maps” in the first paragraph, select “GIS Maps” / top header of the website, Choose one of two options for your search.
• Zoom by Typing or Select a Wilderness.
• Find a Place / City / Road.
• Select “Go” which takes you to the area of interest – Along the bottom of the page is the color codes for “Wilderness Managed By ……………”
• Gear symbol in the top right hand corner allows you to save and / or print the map as a source document for the environmental report.

STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA: http://www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/wmamaps/index.html
• Click on the appropriate county on the left-hand side of the screen.

STATE PRESERVE: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StatePreserves.aspx


State Park or recreation area

There are no other additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.
 

Kim Ledger
Community Programs Director in Iowa
telephone: 515-284-4669
Kim.Ledger@usda.gov

Area Office Contacts
 
 Area 1 - Iowa Falls Area Office
 840 Brooks Road
 Iowa Falls, IA 50126
 Phone: 641-648-5181 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Mitchell, Tama and Worth
 
 Area 2 - Waverly Area Office
 1510 3rd Street, SW
 Waverly, IA 50677
 Phone: 319-352-1715 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek

Area 3 - Tipton Area Office
 127 West South Street
 Tipton, IA 52772
 Phone: 563-886-6006 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Benton, Cedar, Clinton, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Scott
 
 Area 4 - Mt. Pleasant Area Office
 709 S. Iris Street, Suite 103
 Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
 Phone: 319-986-5800 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Van Buren and Washington
 
 Area 5 - Albia Area Office
 1709 South "B" Street
 Albia, IA 52531
 Phone: 641-932-3031 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello and Wayne
 
 Area 6 - Indianola Area Office
 909 East 2nd Aveune, Suite C
 Indianola, IA 50125
 Phone: 515-961-5365 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Ringgold, Union and Warren

 Area 7 - Atlantic Area Office
 511 West 7th Street
 Atlantic, IA 50022
 Phone: 712-243-2107 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Adams, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby and Taylor

Area 8 - Le Mars Area Office
 1100 12th Street SW, Suite C
 Le Mars, IA 51031
 Phone: 712-546-5149 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury

 Area 9 - Storm Lake Area Office
 1619 North Lake Avenue
 Storm Lake, IA 50588
 Phone: 712-732-1851 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Greene, Palo Alto, Pocahontas and Sac

 Area 10 - Humboldt Area Office
 1301 6th Avenue North, Suite 1
 Humboldt, IA 50548
 Phone: 515-332-4411 Ext. 4 
 
Counties Served: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Story, Webster, Winnebago and Wright