许多小型和非常小型的饮用水系统如果要符合1974年《安全饮用水法》及其修正案的要求，就需要进行维修和升级。通常，分散的人口使得基础设施的人均成本很高。联邦、州和供水系统层面的资金短缺加剧了这一问题，导致预算赤字、裁员和休假，影响了小型系统进行维修的能力。小型系统可以使用各种替代的财政援助机制来为改进提供资金。资金选择包括联邦和州机构、银行、基金会和其他来源的贷款和赠款。 本文全面回顾了此类财政援助的来源。此外，它还提供出版物的名称，可以指导读者获得进一步的帮助。包括29个参考文献和表格。

Many small and very small drinking water systems require repair and upgrading if they are to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and its amendments. Often, dispersed population makes infrastructure expensive on a per-capita basis. Funding shortages at the federal, state, and water system levels compound the problem, leading to budget deficits, layoffs, and furloughs that affect small systems' capability to conduct repairs. Various alternative financial assistance mechanisms are available to small systems to fund improvements. The funding options include loans and grants from federal and state agencies, banks, foundations, and other sources. This article provides a comprehensive review of the sources of such financial assistance. In addition, it supplies names of publications that can direct the reader to further assistance. Includes 29 references, tables.