Small System Equipment Assistance Program

The Small System Equipment Assistance program is administered through Oregon’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and implemented jointly by the Oregon Health Authority and Business Oregon. The program is designed to support small water systems by providing financial assistance for the purchase and installation of essential equipment and instrumentation. Its primary goal is to ensure the continued operation of these systems while protecting public health, particularly in communities with limited financial or technical capacity. The program focuses on funding small scale projects involving the addition or replacement of equipment necessary for water treatment, monitoring, pressure management, and system operations. Eligible uses include fixed installation of treatment equipment, process control systems, monitoring instruments, and other essential infrastructure components. Certain portable laboratory equipment may also be funded. However, the program excludes large scale infrastructure projects, land acquisition, new water sources, and distribution system expansions beyond limited yard piping. Federal requirements such as American Iron and Steel provisions and Davis Bacon labor standards may apply depending on project scope and contracting thresholds. Funding is provided as a fully forgivable loan, meaning recipients are not required to repay the funds if program conditions are met. Individual projects may receive up to twenty thousand dollars, with a minimum award of two thousand dollars. The total annual program funding is limited, supporting up to ten projects per year with an overall allocation of two hundred thousand dollars. Projects must remain small in scope, with total budgets not exceeding fifty thousand dollars including all funding sources. Recipients are eligible to receive funding once every three years, ensuring broader distribution of resources across systems. Eligibility is restricted to community water systems and nonprofit non community water systems that meet specific criteria. Community systems must serve at least fifteen service connections or twenty five year round residents, while nonprofit non community systems must serve at least twenty five individuals and be recognized under Oregon law as nonprofit corporations. All applicants must operate systems with fewer than three hundred connections and must not be in significant noncompliance unless the proposed project directly resolves compliance issues. Priority is given to disadvantaged communities, systems addressing Safe Drinking Water Act compliance needs, and systems using surface water sources. Applications must be submitted using the official application form and include required attachments such as cost estimates, service area maps, and supporting documentation. Submissions are accepted via email to the designated program inbox, and incomplete applications are not considered. After submission, applications undergo a review and scoring process conducted by the Oregon Health Authority. Eligible projects are ranked and placed on a priority list, followed by a public notice period before final funding decisions are made. Selected applicants are then contacted by Business Oregon to complete contracting and award processes. The program operates on a recurring schedule with application deadlines occurring twice annually on February fifteenth and August fifteenth. Following submission, the review and award process may take up to six months before a funding contract is executed. Once awarded, recipients must complete their projects within two years, with the possibility of a one year extension upon request. This structured timeline ensures both accountability and timely implementation of critical improvements to small water systems. Support resources are available to applicants throughout the process. Circuit Rider assistance is offered to help identify equipment needs and prepare applications, while Business Oregon Regional Development Officers serve as key contacts for program guidance. Additional support is available through program email contacts for technical and administrative inquiries. Overall, the program provides targeted, accessible funding to improve water system reliability and safeguard public health in small communities across Oregon.

Prioritize projects addressing compliance issues or disadvantaged communities; ensure complete cost documentation and eligibility alignment; keep project scope within funding limits