The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has penned an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help rural water systems that are facing a number of challenges.
According to EPA, such challenges include aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, limited management capacity and declining rate bases.
Through the memorandum of understanding, EPA and USDA will conduct joint activities to help rural water systems continue to provide access to safe drinking water and protect their water resources.
“Rural water systems play a key role in the lives of all Americans,” said EPA assistant administrator for the office of water, David Ross. “Investing resources in rural system infrastructure and management supports EPA’s goal of ensuring that rural communities have the infrastructure necessary to become sustainable, protect public health and support the rural economy.”
According to EPA, the memorandum will implement
