S. 3620 — Emergency Rural Water Response Act of 2026

This section revises the Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grant Program (7 U.S.C. 1926a) by (1) expanding allowable grant uses to include associated water resources infrastructure, such as facilities for potable water, wastewater, storm drainage, or solid waste; and (2) increasing the maximum population of eligible communities to 35,000 (from 10,000). (The program provides grants to public and private nonprofits in rural areas to address significant declines—or imminent declines—in water quantity or quality and to remedy acute shortages through repairs, replacement, or maintenance.)