Drinking Water Supply & Quality

Small and rural jurisdictions.

Grants can be used to fund public infrastructure (e.g., roads, sidewalks, water, sewer, other).

Applications are being accepted for the Multifamily Housing, Housing Infrastructure, and Community Development OTC Project until September 30, 2020, however, the program is currently oversubscribed.

$29.6 million (2019).

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and are not competitively scored. 29 out of 80 projects funded (2018).

City, county, city and county, municipal utility district, community services district, sanitary district, sanitation district, water district.

Loans to local agencies for specific types of water conservation and water use efficiency projects and programs to achieve urban water use targets.

Applications are accepted continuously until funds are exhausted.

$6.75 million total available in loans, with $1.75 million for water use efficiency upgrades and $5 million for fixing expensive and difficult to repair customer leaks.

Public bodies, community-based nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes.

The purchase, construction, and/or improvements to public water facilities.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Approximately $2.8 Billion nationwide in direct loans (2018). Approximately $30 million in grants nationwide and $890,000 in grants in California (2019)

26 awards were granted in California (2019).

Cities, counties, districts, private community water systems, nonprofit or publicly-owned non-community water systems, and community water systems created by the project.

Projects that return public water systems to compliance with drinking water standards, consolidation, water meters, treatment projects, replacement of aging infrastructure.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, ranked, and added quarterly to the Competitive List. The highest-ranked applicants on the Competitive List are added to a Funding List and are awarded funding as it becomes available.

$30-40 million in grants and $40 million in low-interest loans, annually.

Although competitive information is unavailable for this program, the majority of projects that fullfill program requirements receive funding.

State and local government entities, nonprofits, and Native American tribes.

Construction of water transmission lines, extensions, break or leak repair, maintenance to replenish water supply, and water source, intake, or treatment facilities.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

$14.7 million was awarded nationwide and $1.5 million was awarded in California (2019).

Although competitive information is unavailable for this program, the majority of projects that fulfill program requirements receive funding.

Cities, counties, special districts, assessment districts, JPAs, and nonprofits.

Local streets, highways, drainage, water, sewer, waste, transit, parks, and other public utilities and facilities.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. The ISRF Board considers applications at monthly meetings.

$50,000 – $25 million loans, with terms for the useful life of the project up to a maximum of 30 years.

This funding program provides loans to qualified applicants on a non-competitive basis.

Most state and local government entities, nonprofits, and Federally-recognized Native American tribes that serve rural areas and towns with a population of 10,000 or less including tribal lands in rural areas, and colonias.

Acquisition, construction, or improvement of drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage, and distribution, sewer, solid waste, and storm water collection, transmission, treatment, disposal, and other activities.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Approximately $33 million in loan funding and $10 million in grant funding was available to California applicants in 2019. Award amounts are determined on tier eligibility based on the median household income of the area to be served.

Although competitive information is unavailable for this program, the majority of projects that fullfill program requirements receive funding.

Nonprofits and Federally-recognized Native American tribes.

Projects which promote environmental justice, public health, sustainability, and climate resilience in areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and hazards.

The most recent application period closed in April 2020

$1.17 million was awarded in 2020. The maximum grant award is $50,000.

28 projects were awarded in 2020.

Public agencies, tribes, public utilities, mutual water companies, and nonprofits.

Planning and implementation projects which prevent and clean up contamination of groundwater that serves (or has served) as a source of drinking water.

The most recent application period (Round 2) closed in August 2018. It is anticipated that funding Round 3 will open in the Summer of 2021.

$607 million remaining for Round 2, including $63 million for planning grants and $544 million for implementation grants.

6 planning projects were approved and 7 implementation progects were approved for Round 2.

Cities and/or counties of over 250,000 that have jurisdiction over a Qualifying Infill Area. Nonprofit or a for-profit developer of a Qualifying Infill Project applying jointly with a city and/or county that has jurisdiction over a Qualifying Infill Project.

Construction of new infill development and rehabilitation of infrastructure that supports higher-density affordable and mixed-income housing including but not limited to active transportation, parks and open space, stormwater, street repair, transit, and water-related improvements.

The most recent application cycle closed in March 2020. The next round of funding is expected to be announced in November 2020.

$194 million available for Round 6 (2020). For Qualifying Infill Projects, the minimum grant award is $1 million ($500,000 for rural areas) with a maximum of $7.5 million. For Qualifying Infill Areas with over 200 units, the minimum grant award is $2 million ($1 million for rural areas). Only one application for each Capital Improvement Project will be funded per funding round.

40 proposals funded in Round 6 (FY 2019/2020)

Cities and/or counties of under 250,000 that have jurisdiction over a Qualifying Infill Area. Nonprofit or a for-profit developer of a Qualifying Infill Project applying jointly with a city and/or county that has jurisdiction over a Qualifying Infill Project.

Construction of new infill development and rehabilitation of infrastructure that supports higher-density affordable and mixed-income housing including but not limited to active transportation, parks and open space, stormwater, street repair, transit, and water-related improvements.

Applications were accepted on an over-the-counter basis as of March 2020, however, all funds have been exhausted.

$85 million available for Round 6 (2020). For Qualifying Infill Projects, the minimum grant award is $1 million ($500,000 for rural areas) with a maximum of $7.5 million. For Qualifying Infill Areas with over 200 units, the minimum grant award is $2 million ($1 million for rural areas). Only one application for each Capital Improvement Project will be funded per funding round.

21 proposals funded in Round 6 (FY 2019/2020)

Public agencies, nonprofits, public utilities, Native American tribes, and mutual water companies.

Projects which assist water infrastructure systems’ adapt to climate change, incentives to promote collaboration across watersheds to facilitate better management of regional water resources and make infrastructure improvements, and improve regional water self-reliance.

Due dates for final applications for each funding cycle vary regionally. Applications for Round 1 were due between September and December 2019.

Approximately $403 million is available for multple rounds. $222 million was available for Round 1.

254 out of 262 proposals funded (2019).

Public agencies, nonprofits, federally recognized Native American Tribes, state agencies, public colleges, federal agencies.

Projects that install treatments or management practices to reduce and mitigate the effects of nonpoint source pollutants, such as nutrients, pesticides, and sediment, to waters of the state in areas affected by fire as indicated in emergency proclamations by the California Governor.

The most recent application period closed in December 2019. The next funding round has not yet been announced.

$5 million. Individual grants range from $250,000 – $800,000.

8 proposals were accepted in 2019.

Public agencies, nonprofits, public utilities, mutual water companies, groundwater sustainability agencies, Federally-recognized California Native American tribes, certain non-federally recognized Native American tribes.

Grants, loans, contracts, or services to help water systems provide safe and affordable drinking water. Operation and maintenance costs, consolidating water systems, extending drinking water services to other public water systems, wells, and state small water systems, replacement of water, services that support long-term self-sufficiency, and sustainability of long-term drinking water solutions.

It is anticipated that funding will be available sometime in 2020 or 2021. The funding expenditure plan was adopted in the Summer of 2020.

$130 million annually, beginning in FY 2020/2021 until 2030.

Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs)

Projects that address drought and groundwater challenges to achieve regional sustainability for investments in groundwater recharge projects with surface water, stormwater, recycled water, and other conjunctive use projects; prevent or clean up contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water; support water supply reliability, water conservation, and water use efficiency; and support water banking, exchange, and reclamation.

The Proposal Solicitation Package for this program is currently being finalized. It is anticipated that Round 1 Grant Solicitations will open November 16, 2020, and close January 2021.

$26 million for critically overdrafted basins only for Round 1 (2020/2021). The future Round 2 grant solicitation will provide a minimum of $77 million for medium- and high-priority basins.

Special districts, nonprofit groups, local governments, federally recognized California Native American tribes, non-federally recognized California Native American tribes and Groundwater Sustainability Agencies

This program funds watershed coordinator positions to facilitate watershed and groundwater improvement efforts in areas of the state most immediately impacted by the implementation of SGMA.

The most recent application period closed September 15, 2020.

$1.5 million available (2020). The maximum limit for each grant proposal is $300,000.

Public agencies, nonprofits, public utilities, Federally Recognized Native American tribes, State Native American tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission’s Tribal Consultation list, and mutual water companies.

Groundwater sustainability planning and management projects.

The most recent funding round closed in November 2019.

$47 million (Proposition 68 funds) was available for Round 3 (2019).

53 out of 55 (2019)

States, Native American tribes, water districts, and other public agencies with water management authority.

Projects that help communities prepare for and respond to drought, such as modifying surface water intakes, new conveyance system components, additional water storage, aquifer storage and recovery, and capture and treatment of alternative supplies.

Applications are accepted on an annual basis. The most recent application period closed August 5, 2020 for projects in FY 2021.

$7.5 Million (2020).

Irrigation and water districts, Native American tribes, states, and other entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements.

Installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system, lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or other similar projects that are limited in scope.

Applications are accepted on an annual basis. The most recent application period closed in March 2020.

$4.1 million was available for the most recent funding round, with a maximum award amount of $75,000 per project (2020).

14 out of 52 awarded projects were from the State of California (2019).

Irrigation and water districts, Native American tribes, states, and other entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements.

Projects which conserve and use water more efficiently and contribute to water supply reliability.

Applications are accepted on an annual basis. The most recent application cycle closed on September 17, 2020.

$41 million in grants were awarded in the previous funding round (2020). Maximum grant awards for the current funding round (2021) are $500,000 for projects that can be completed within two years and $2 million for projects that can be completed within three years. There is a minimum 50% cost-share requirement.

12 out of 54 awarded projects were from the State of California (2019)