LOC News
Apply Now for a Water Source Protection Grant
The Oregon Health Authority’s Drinking Water Services division (OHA-DWS) is now accepting applications from public water systems (PWSs) for drinking water source protection (DWSP) projects. This year the application period is open from January 27 through March 28, 2025.
This funding, in the form of grants and low interest loans, is intended to provide financial assistance to public and privately owned community water systems and nonprofit noncommunity water systems for the implementation of projects that help protect their existing drinking water sources (groundwater and surface water) from contamination. Eligible projects must be focused on contaminant risk-reduction efforts in the delineated source water area. Eligible PWSs can apply for DWSP grants of up to $50,000 and loans of up to $100,000 per water system. They can also coordinate with other eligible water systems in their vicinity and combine funding for larger “regional” projects. Example projects include mapping and risk assessment of drinking water supply areas, resiliency assessments, emergency and spill prevention planning, landowner outreach and education, land conservation and restoration, ensuring proper private well abandonment, and developing local drinking water source protection plans and ordinances (see the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Interactive Drinking Water Source Protection Funded Projects Map for examples of previously funded projects).
For 2025, eligible PWSs may apply for land acquisition (conservation) planning grants (up to a maximum of $70,000) that will be funded with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funds. Land acquisition for conservation purposes refers to the preservation of land to protect, restore, or enhance sources of drinking water serving eligible PWSs. Conservation planning projects can include studies or activities that involve or are related to assessing the legal and/or financial feasibility of purchasing land, easements, etc. within an identified drinking water source area.
For information regarding the application process, eligibility, funding (loans and grants), and rating process, please see the Application Guide on the OHA-DWS Drinking Water Source Water Protection Projects web page.
Contact: Russell Kazmierczak, Technical Services and Source Water Protection Specialist - russell.a.kazmierczak@oha.oregon.gov
Last Updated 1/31/25