New Mexico Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants 

Helping Rural Communities Restore Access to Safe Drinking Water in the Wake of Drought, Disasters, and Infrastructure Failures

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants are available from USDA Rural Development, through the New Mexico Rural Development State Office, to help eligible communities prepare for, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. 

Rurally located public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply. Applicants must show that a major decline in quantity or quality of water occurred within two years of the date of the application. Grants are also awarded when a significant decline in quality and quantity of water is imminent. 

The following events can qualify as an applicable emergency:

• Drought or flood 
• Earthquake 
• Tornado or hurricane 
• Disease outbreak 
• Chemical spill, leak or seepage 
• Other disasters 

A federal disaster declaration is not required. 

Eligible areas include:

• Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less — check eligible addresses 
• Tribal lands in rural areas 
• Colonias 

The area to be served must also have a median household income less than the state’s median household income for non-metropolitan areas. Contact your local RD office for details. 

Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 are available to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and address related maintenance necessary to replenish the water supply 

Water source grants up to $1,000,000 are available for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and/or other sources of water, including the water source up to and including the treatment plant). 

Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities are encouraged. 

Applications for this program are accepted year-round online through RD APPLY or through your local RD office. 

This program helps prevent damage or restore households and businesses’ access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.