The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened applications for $10.8 million in grant funding to support training and retention across the drinking water and wastewater sectors. The funding is intended to help utilities address current and emerging workforce needs through programs that build skills and create pathways into water careers. According to the announcement, the initiative is focused on both expanding the number of workers and enhancing technical capabilities within utility teams.
The EPA framed the funding in response to a widening workforce gap. Utilities are preparing for a wave of retirements while simultaneously contending with aging infrastructure, the adoption of new technologies, and increased exposure to cybersecurity risks. Agency discussions during a recent roundtable on strengthening the water workforce highlighted the need to lower barriers to entry and improve coordination across state lines so that training initiatives can scale effectively.
The Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant, created under the 2018 America’s Water Infrastructure Act, will fund four priority areas designed to strengthen talent pipelines and operational readiness within the sector:
- Apprenticeships and internships to develop skilled trades and hands-on competencies within water utilities.
- School and university programs spanning elementary, secondary, and higher education to introduce and advance water career pathways.
- Partnerships between regional employers and workforce organizations to connect qualified candidates with openings and accelerate placement.
- Training for professionals working with decentralized systems, supporting public health in communities that use private wells or septic systems.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, labor groups, community colleges, universities, and public works departments. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by October 5, 2026. The EPA indicates that the grant structure is designed to be flexible so communities and training providers can tailor approaches to local needs while aligning with national workforce objectives.
The agency states that the funding is aimed at strengthening and fortifying the nation’s water workforce to ensure safe drinking water and properly managed wastewater. By supporting classroom instruction, work-based learning, and regional coordination efforts, the program seeks to help utilities build resilient teams capable of operating and safeguarding critical water infrastructure in the face of changing technical and risk environments.
