Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor announced this week that $2.6 million was awarded to three feasibility studies and 10 appraisal investigations under Reclamation’s Rural Water Program.

“Many rural communities face the challenge of securing adequate clean water for domestic, municipal and industrial uses,” Connor said. “The awards announced today will allow Reclamation to work with the communities selected to help them explore all opportunities to secure usable water supplies.”

Projects selected for feasibility studies included the Dry-Redwater Regional Water System Feasibility Study; Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority in Montana. An appraisal investigation is an analysis of domestic, municipal, and industrial water supply problems, needs and opportunities primarily using existing data and includes a preliminary assessment of alternatives to determine if there is at least one viable alternative that warrants a more detailed investigation at the feasibility level.

A feasibility study is a detailed investigation requiring the acquisition of primary data, an analysis of a reasonable range of alternatives and determination of a preferred alternative. The feasibility studies selected for funding under the Rural Water Program will build on the findings of previously approved appraisal investigations.

Through the Rural Water Program, Reclamation will work with small communities of no more than 50,000 people to investigate opportunities to ensure safe and adequate rural water supply projects for domestic, municipal and industrial use; plan the design and construction of rural water supply projects through the conduct of appraisal investigations and feasibility studies; and oversee, as appropriate, the construction of rural water supply projects that are recommended for construction by Reclamation in a feasibility report developed under the program and subsequently authorized by Congress.

To learn more about Reclamation’s Rural Water Program, please visit www.usbr.gov/ruralwater.