Source Water Protection Grants
Source water protection grants are no longer
being offered due to federal funding reductions.
DEQ’s Source Water Protection Grants provide funding for projects to protect sources of public drinking water. Eligible activities include those that lead to the reduction in risk of contamination of a drinking water source. Projects must contribute to improved protection of one or more public water supply sources.
Eligible applicants include public water systems, state and local government agencies, special districts (such as soil conservation districts), associations, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions in Idaho. Federal agencies are not eligible.
Eligible Expenditures
Funds are available for both local and regional protection projects. Eligible projects include the following:
- Contaminant source identification (research)
- Contaminant pathway removal (closure of abandoned or unused wells)
- Contaminant removal (hazardous waste collection, pollution prevention, and waste reduction)
- Contaminant management (implementation of best management practices [BMPs], ordinance development and implementation of a source water protection plan, structures to divert contaminated runoff from the source)
- Education and information sharing (brochures, workshops, and media campaigns)
Ineligible Expenditures
Projects specific to the treatment, transmission, distribution, consolidation, or storage of the drinking water system are not eligible for funding.
Source water protection grants cannot be used to fund personnel or purchase equipment associated with system operation and maintenance, water treatment, purchase of land, or system infrastructure upgrades or improvements such as flow meters or level indicators.
Source water protection grants cannot be used for environmental assessment costs associated with purchasing the land. Environmental assessments and potential cleanup costs may be eligible for assistance through DEQ's Brownfields Assessment Program. (Note: Although the source water protection grant cannot be used to purchase land, it can be used to fund a land survey to identify the property boundaries of the land to be acquired for protection.)
Source water protecton grants cannot be used to fund the purchase of water rights.
Funding Cycle
Source water protection grants are awarded annually. Check back for an updated schedule.