Water Conservation and Water Quality Grants Available

If your agency is in need of water service meters, establishing a baseline monitoring program for routine water quality monitoring, or has other water conservation and water quality needs, please take a look at the funding opportunities available below.

The Bureau of Reclamation is now accepting applications through January 19, 2012, for the WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grant program. The program supports projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, benefit endangered and threatened species, facilitate water markets, or carry out other activities to address climate-related impacts on water or prevent any water-related crisis or conflict. Eligible projects include canal lining/piping; municipal metering; irrigation flow measurement; SCADA and automation; groundwater recharge; installation of small-scale hydroelectric, solar-electric, wind energy, geothermal power systems; producing and using biomass or renewable fuels; and retrofitting or modernizing water management facilities or equipment to increase energy efficiency.

The Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) Urban Waters Grant Program will award up to $60,000 per project for research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and local priorities, such as water quality monitoring or mapping trails and other walkways along water bodies to identify gaps or areas where additional connectivity is needed. Proposals for the Urban Small Waters Grant Program are due by January 23, 2012. Webinars to assist applicants will be provided by EPA on December 14, 2011, and January 5, 2012.