General Information on the Rural Water Supply Program
Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
News Releases
Title I of the Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 (Act), authorized Reclamation to establish a Rural Water Supply Program. Reclamation is promulgating the criteria through an Interim Final Rule in order to complete the rulemaking. The Interim Final rule was published on November 17, 2008.
Reclamation has significant experience in the development of rural water projects. Since 1980, Congress has directed Reclamation to undertake 10 specific rural water projects, and Reclamation has a century of experience developing and managing water delivery systems in the West. However, prior to the passage of the Act in 2006, Reclamation did not have a formal rural water program. The program to be implemented by this rule will allow Reclamation to be involved in planning and prioritizing rural water projects to ensure that the projects selected are cost-effective and that they are in the Federal interest.
The Act specifically authorizes the Secretary to undertake the following activities in implementing the Rural Water Supply Program:
- Investigate opportunities to ensure safe and adequate rural water supply projects for domestic, municipal, and industrial use in small communities and rural areas of the Reclamation States;
- plan the design and construction of rural water supply projects through the conduct of appraisal investigations and feasibility studies; and
- oversee, as appropriate, the construction of rural water supply projects that are recommended for construction by Reclamation in a feasibility report developed under the Rural Water Supply Program, and subsequently authorized by Congress.
Last updated: 12/4/08