Millions of Americans in rural areas rely on private wells or aging water systems that can contain lead, arsenic, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and other contaminants. This bill would create a USDA grant program to help those households buy, install, and maintain water filtration systems as an immediate fix while larger infrastructure projects catch up. Eligible recipients include homeowners, renters, small residential property owners with 25 or fewer units, and licensed child-care facilities — as long as their household income is at or below 150% of their state’s median rural income. The program prioritizes private well owners and authorizes $10 million per year from 2025 through 2029. Nonprofit organizations could also receive grants to help coordinate water testing and connect families with the right filtration products.
Congressional Summary
Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act or the Healthy H2O Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a program under which USDA awards grants for improving the quality of drinking water in certain rural areas. Grants may be given to individuals or entities, such as home owners, renters, and licensed child-care facilities, that have demonstrated the presence of one or more health contaminants in their drinking water. Grants may also be given to nonprofit organizations to help individuals and entities test their water, analyze the results of the tests, and reduce the contamination.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-07-23
- Date Added
- 2026-04-06