Drinking Water Supply & Quality

Small and rural jurisdictions.

Public infrastructure projects including but not limited to roads, sidewalks, water and sewer.

The most recent application period closed on September 30, 2020.

$29.6 million. (FY 2018/2019)

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

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 next funding round has been put on hold until further notice.

$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.

The most recent application cycle was run on an over-the-counter basis and closed Summer 2020. The next funding round has been put on hold until further notice.

$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. The Round 1 application period closed in late 2019.

Approximately $403 million is available for multiple 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.

Implementation proposals for impaired waters, or projects that implement practices to improve impaired waters. As funding is available, the program may fund planning proposals, proposals for post-fire recovery, and proposals for protection of high-quality waters.

Applications for the current funding round closed on December 18, 2020.

$5 million (2020). Individual grants range from $250,000 – $800,000.

7 projects were awarded funding in 2019/2020.

Nonprofits, public agencies, and Native American Tribal governments.

Water quality, river, and watershed protection and restoration projects of statewide importance outside of the Delta.

The most recent application period closed on February 16, 2021.

The total estimated available funding for the current cycle is $3 million.

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 applications for round 1 closed in January 2021. The next call for application is expected Spring 2022.

The total estimated funding available for round 2 is $77 million.

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 on September 15, 2020.

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

Native American Tribes, local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts, etc.), local government entities, interstate organizations, and nonprofits.

Projects that improve use of technology to increase water reliability and address the water management needs for stakeholders.

The most recent application window closed on January 19, 2021.

$2 million, with a maximum award amount of $100,000.

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).