Accepting Applications for Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) activities from January 27 to March 28, 2025. See details in the DWSP Application.
The Drinking Water Source Protection Fund (DWSPF) is designed for the protection of drinking water sources. Drinking water sources include watersheds above a public water supply surface water intake and/or the delineated portion of the aquifer supplying water to public water supply wells or springs. States may provide assistance, in the form of a loan (up to a maximum of $100,000) for certain source water assessment (SWA) implementation activities, including drinking water source protection (DWSP) land acquisition and other types of incentive-based source water quality protection measures.
States may also provide direct assistance in the form of a grant (up to $50,000 per eligible system) or technical support for drinking water source area delineation, potential contaminant source inventory and risk assessment, development of DWSP plans, and implementation of protection strategies. Examples of eligible activities include the development of local DWSP ordinances, implementation of pollution prevention strategies, and development of public education programs highlighting the importance of drinking water source protection.
For 2025, eligible public water systems 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 public water systems. Conservation planning projects can include any studies or activities that involve or are related to assessing legal and/or financial feasibility of purchasing land, easements, etc. within an identified drinking water source area.
Eligibility
Publicly and privately owned community and nonprofit non-community water systems are eligible to apply for DWSPF funding. Water systems must have a completed SWA to be eligible. More information regarding source water assessments is available
here.
Program Overview
Fact Sheet: 2025 Drinking Water Source Protection Fund
- Low interest loans up to a maximum of $100,000
- Source protection grant up to $50,000 per water system
- Land acquisition (conservation) planning grants up to $70,000 per project
- Grant and loan awards must be spent within 2 years to avoid forfeiture
Application Guidance
Application Form
To be considered for DWSPF funding, water systems must submit a completed Application that is specific to source protection. To view successful project ideas from previous grant recipients see interactive map here.
DWSPF Project Priority List (PPL)
The source protection project priority list reflects the final relative ranking of projects and activities reviewed for funding by Drinking Water Services and the DEQ Drinking Water Protection Program. Eligible projects remain on the funding list for two years. If after one year the project remains unfunded, it is removed from the list unless the water system submits an updated Application. Business Oregon manages funded DWSP projects. Recommended projects on the PPL will be contacted by Business Oregon prior to receiving grant and loan funds.
Projects that are not currently recommended for funding, or are below 60 points, or are rated ineligible activities were not considered for funding and those systems are encouraged to reapply in future years.
If your system has an urgent DWSP matter that may need immediate attention or has questions about the Drinking Water Source Protection Fund, contact Tom Pattee, Groundwater Coordinator, at
tom.pattee@oha.oregon.gov or 541-684-2440.