The Water Well Trust (WWT) has received a third grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Household Water Well Systems program for a project to increase potable water availability to rural households in seven South Carolina counties and three New York counties. The USDA grant will fund Water Well Trust projects in seven central South Carolina counties, including Darlington, Lee, Marion, Sumter, Clarendon, Williamsburg, and Orangeburg, as well as three New York counties, Delaware, Rensselaer and Columbia.
The grant monies will provide long-term, low-interest loans to applicants seeking new or improved water wells in these counties. WWT limits funding to a maximum of $11,000 (USD) per household. Loans have an interest rate of one percent with terms of up to 20 years. To qualify for a WWT loan, applicants must be the owner and occupant of the home as their primary residence. In addition, the applicant’s household income must not exceed 100 percent of the median non-metropolitan household income for the state in which the applicant resides. The 2016 Non-Metropolitan median household income is $44,200 for South Carolina and $58,900 for New York.
The income criteria apply to both the applicant and all other occupants of the home. Prospective applicants can download an application form and instruction letter from the Water Well Trust website under ‘Apply’ at the top of the home page. For more information, visit the website.