The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the foundation for the protection of surface water quality in the United States. Section 106 of the CWA, authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance in the form of water pollution control (Section 106) grants. Section 106 grants provide funding to build and sustain effective water quality programs that ensure the health of our nation's water bodies.
Section 106 grants can support a wide variety of water pollution prevention and control programs and activities, including:
- Monitoring and assessing water quality;
- Developing water quality standards;
- Identifying impaired waters and total maximum daily loads;
- Managing national pollutant discharge elimination system permits;
- Ensuring compliance;
- Implementing enforcement actions;
- Protecting source water; and
- Managing outreach and education programs.
Increasingly, EPA, states, tribes, and interstate agencies are working together to develop basin-wide approaches to water quality management. The Section 106 program fosters a watershed protection approach at the state level by looking broadly at states' water quality problems, and targeting the use of limited finances available for effective program management.More information on eligible expenses is available to view at: https://www.epa.gov/water-pollution-control-section-106-grants/final-guidance-use-associated-program-support-costs.
Section 106 grants also may be used to provide in-kind” support through an EPA contract, or for associated program support if requested by a state or tribe, as discussed in EPA's final guidance.