The Drinking Water Source Protection Fund is available to eligible public water systems for projects that protect drinking water sources within a public water system's delineated drinking water source area. Delineated drinking water source areas can be found in a public water system's source water assessment. For surface water systems, visit the Department of Environmental Quality's Source Water Assessment Database. For groundwater systems, contact Paula Rich, Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services.
The Drinking Water Source Protection Fund offers three types of funding for eligible drinking water source protection projects. These include:
Source Protection Grants: Up to $50,000 per water system to support projects that enhance delineations of drinking water source areas, improve source water assessments, develop source water protection plans, implement protection strategies, and strengthen security measures to reduce risk of contamination within a source area.
Land Acquisition (Conservation) Planning Grants: Up to $70,000 per project for planning activities related to acquiring land or easements to protect drinking water sources. Land acquisition for conservation purposes involves preserving land to protect, restore, or enhance drinking water sources that serve eligible public water systems. Conservation planning grants can be used for studies or activities that assess the legal and financial feasibility.
Low-Interest Source Protection Loans: Up to $100,000 per project to finance source water protection implementation activities.
Learn more about the Drinking Water Source Protection Fund by visiting the Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Source Water Protection Projects web page.
Learn about previous grant recipients by viewing the interactive map. This map highlights projects funded over time with Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Source Protection Fund.