Water Well Trust Water Access Program

The Water Well Trust (WWT) and its partners provide funding for wells and/or septic systems for low‐income families nationwide that need safe drinking water or wastewater systems.

To be eligible for a loan, you must meet all following eligibility criteria:

• Deed or mortgage for home and property in applicant’s name.

• Applicant must be the occupant(s) of the property.

• Home must be applicant’s primary residence.

• No new construction, must have occupied the property for at least one year.

• No reliable source of water to the home and no option to connect to a public water utility or sewer.

• Gross annual household income based on your state’s median non-metropolitan household income. 

Low-interest loans, not grants, for a household water well and/or septic system. The apply page publishes only eligibility; WWT states the loan terms in its own USDA-grant announcements: "The Water Well Trust limits funding to a maximum of $15,000 per system. Loans have an interest rate of 1% with terms of up to 20 years."

One caution: an older state-specific WWT project used a lower cap — "WWT limits funding to a maximum of $11,000 per household" — so confirm the current ceiling with WWT before planning around $15,000.

Income test: "The applicant's household income must not exceed 60% of the median non-metropolitan household income for the state in which the applicant resides. The income criteria apply to both the applicant and all other occupants of the home."

Other conditions, all published on the apply page:

• "Deed or mortgage for home and property in applicant's name"

• "Applicant must be the occupant(s) of the property" and "Home must be applicant's primary residence"

• "No new construction, must have occupied the property for at least one year"

• "No reliable source of water to the home and no option to connect to a public water utility or sewer"

There is no online application form — you submit an online interest form or call 833-539-8200, and WWT contacts you.

Scope note for farmers: this funds the residence's drinking-water well and wastewater system. It is not a farm, livestock-water, or irrigation program, and farm income is not the qualifying test — total household income is.

To apply, complete this online form and WWT will contact you.

Or contact WWT by calling 833-539-8200 or by email at info@waterwelltrust.org.

• Water Well Trust