Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Water Grant Program
Significant human health and water quality problems exist in Alaska Native Villages (ANV) and other rural communities in Alaska due to lack of sanitation. To address these issues, Congress in 1996 authorized EPA to create the Alaska Native Villages and Rural Communities Grant Program, which is codified in 33 U.S.C. § 1263a.
The program assists these communities with the construction of new or improved wastewater and drinking water systems. Communities can also use the funding for training and technical assistance in system operations and maintenance.
EPA provides funds to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to address the needs of rural and native Alaska communities. The DEC, in turn, administers these funds through its Village Safe Water (VSW) program. The VSW program’s goal is "to improve public health and compliance with environmental laws by upgrading the level of sanitation facilities in rural [Alaskan] communities through financial and technical assistance." For more information, contact the Alaska DEC VSW program.
Grant Guidelines
In July 2016, EPA issued updated grant guidelines to manage the ANV grants. The guidelines describe how EPA awards and administers the Alaska Rural and Native Villages grants as authorized by the Congressional Appropriation Acts and Section 113a of the Clean Water Act.