---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300j–19f"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300j–19f"
heading: "Operational sustainability of small public water systems"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300j-19f"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XII — Safety of Public Water Systems"
  - "Part E — General Provisions"
---

# §300j–19f. Operational sustainability of small public water systems

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means—
    - (A) a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f);
    - (B) a unit of local government;
    - (C) a public [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2) established by a unit of local government to provide water [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
    - (D) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), public trust, or cooperative association that owns or operates a public water system;
    - (E) an Indian Tribe that owns or operates a public water system;
    - (F) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization that provides technical assistance to public water systems; and
    - (G) a Tribal [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4).
  - (2) **Operational sustainability—** The term “operational sustainability” means the ability to improve the operation of a small system through the identification and prevention of potable water loss due to leaks, breaks, and other metering or infrastructure failures.
  - (3) **Program—** The term “[program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)” means the grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) established under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (4) **Small system—** The term “small system”, for the purposes of this section, means a public water system that—
    - (A) serves fewer than 10,000 people; and
    - (B) is owned or operated by—
      - (i) a unit of local government;
      - (ii) a public [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2);
      - (iii) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2);
      - (iv) a public trust;
      - (v) a cooperative association; or
      - (vi) an Indian Tribe.
- (b) **Establishment—** Subject to the availability of appropriations, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall establish a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of improving the operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems.
- (c) **Applications—** To be eligible to receive a grant under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), an eligible entity shall submit to the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may require, including—
  - (1) a proposal of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to be carried out using grant funds under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (2) documentation provided by the eligible entity describing the deficiencies or suspected deficiencies in operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems that are to be addressed through the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
  - (3) a description of how the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) will improve the operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems;
  - (4) a description of how the improvements described in [paragraph (3)](#c-3) will be maintained beyond the life of the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), including a plan to maintain and update any asset data collected as a result of the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2); and
  - (5) any additional information the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may require.
- (d) **Additional required information—** Before the award of funds for a grant under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to a grant recipient, the grant recipient shall submit to the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1)—
  - (1) if the grant recipient is located in a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that has established a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) drinking water [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) revolving loan fund under [section 300j–12 of this title](/usc/42/300j–12.md), a copy of a written agreement between the grant recipient and the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) in which the grant recipient agrees to provide a copy of any data collected under the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to the [State agency](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12) administering the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) drinking water [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) revolving loan fund (or a designee); or
  - (2) if the grant recipient is located in an area other than a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that has established a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) drinking water [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) revolving loan fund under [section 300j–12 of this title](/usc/42/300j–12.md), a copy of a written agreement between the grant recipient and the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) in which the eligible entity agrees to provide a copy of any data collected under the proposed [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) (or a designee).
- (e) **Use of funds—** An eligible entity that receives a grant under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall use the grant funds to carry out [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that improve the operational sustainability of 1 or more small systems through—
  - (1) the development of a detailed asset inventory, which may include drinking water sources, wells, storage, valves, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) systems, distribution lines, hydrants, pumps, controls, and other essential infrastructure;
  - (2) the development of an infrastructure asset map, including a map that uses technology such as—
    - (A) geographic information system software; and
    - (B) global positioning system software;
  - (3) the deployment of leak detection technology;
  - (4) the deployment of metering technology;
  - (5) training in asset management strategies, techniques, and technologies for appropriate staff employed by—
    - (A) the eligible entity; or
    - (B) the small systems for which the grant was received;
  - (6) the deployment of strategies, techniques, and technologies to enhance the operational sustainability and effective use of water resources through water reuse; and
  - (7) the development or deployment of other strategies, techniques, or technologies that the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may determine to be appropriate under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (f) **Cost share—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#f-2), the Federal share of the cost of a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out using a grant under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) shall be 90 percent of the total cost of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Waiver—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may increase the Federal share under [paragraph (1)](#f-1) to 100 percent.
- (g) **Report—** Not later than 2 years after November 15, 2021, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress a report that describes the implementation of the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), which shall include a description of the use and deployment of amounts made available under the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (h) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1459E, as added Pub. L. 117–58, div. E, title I, § 50106, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1142.)