LOC News
Drinking Water Source Protection Funding Now Open
The Oregon Health Authority’s Drinking Water Services program is now accepting applications from Public Water Systems for 2026 Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) projects. The application window runs January 22–March 12. See details in the DWS Application.
The Drinking Water Source Protection Fund offers:
- Loans up to $100,000 for source water assessment implementation, including land acquisition and other protection measures.
- Grants up to $70,000 for source area delineation, contaminant inventory, risk assessment, DWSP plan development, and protection strategy implementation.
Eligible activities include local ordinances, pollution prevention efforts, and public education programs. Examples of past projects can be found on the Oregon DEQ’s Interactive DWSP Funded Projects Map.
For 2026, systems may also apply for:
- Land acquisition (conservation) planning grants up to $70,000.
- Regional Source Water Collaborative grants up to $175,000 to support multi‑system coordination and risk reduction.
Full details on eligibility, funding, and the rating process are available in the Application Guide on the OHA‑DWS Drinking Water Source Protection Projects webpage.
Contact: Tom Pattee, Groundwater Coordinator – tom.pattee@oha.oregon.gov or 541‑684‑2440
Last Updated 2/13/26