Davidson, N.C. – November 02, 2026 -- The Water Well Trust (WWT) has completed its 1,000th household water well since launching in 2012, extending low-interest financing to low-income rural homeowners in 44 states.
The milestone well was finished in Aroda, Virginia, for a veteran whose well ran dry in August 2026. Since then, he had been getting water for his home from a local store and a neighbor.
USDA-backed loans fund wells and septic systems
The program is funded by the USDA's Decentralized Water Systems (DWS) program and matching funds from Water Systems Council member companies. It provides low-interest loans for building and rehabilitating household water wells and septic systems for eligible homeowners.
WWT has taken part in the drilling or rehabilitation of more than 1,000 water wells and 174 wastewater projects.
Eligibility caps household income at 60% of the state non-metropolitan median
Applicants must own and occupy the property as their primary residence for at least one year and have no access to a public water supply or sewer system. Household income must be at or below 60% of the state's median non-metropolitan income, calculated across all residents of the household.
The property must also be current on all taxes and be deemed rural by the USDA. Homeowners can check eligibility and start an application through a submission form on the WWT website.
An estimated two million Americans lack clean drinking water
The Water Systems Council established WWT to address Americans living without dependable access to safe drinking water. The two million estimate excludes tribal communities, where one in 10 Indigenous Americans lacks access to safe water or basic sanitation.
WWT says its work shows that decentralized, well-based water systems can offer sustainable, cost-effective solutions for rural households and communities.