Water Quality

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, is seeking proposals from the small businesses to develop novel environmental technologies in the following topics areas. See the official solicitation posted on FedConnect to learn more about the topic areas and view full topic descriptions.

Eligible Recipients:
Small businesses

Eligible Projects:

Clean and Safe Water

  • Zero-liquid discharge and brine concentrate minimization
  • Treatment and destruction of PFAS in wastewater and other waste streams
  • HABs sensors that can monitor cyanobacteria and toxins

Air Quality & Climate

  • Innovative technologies to clean indoor air during wildfire smoke events and other high pollution days
  • Air pollution control technologies for urban small sources

Land

  • Innovations in slurry injection technology for complex waste treatment and disposal

Homeland Security

  • AI-based indoor mapping and localization using smartphone sensor data

Circular Economy/Sustainable Materials

  • Innovative technologies that help consumers prevent food waste in the acquisition, preparation, and storage of food
  • Innovative technologies or materials that will improve the U.S. recycling system
  • Innovative material reduction and reuse solutions to lower embodied carbon in the built environment

Safer Chemicals

  • Rubber anti-degradant technologies for tires and other rubber products that are lower concern for human health and the environment
  • Innovative enhanced efficiency fertilizers

Funding Source:
US Environmental Protection Agency

Funding Amount:
TBA

Deadline:
Open: June 28, 2023 – Close: August 23, 2023. Proposals must be submitted through FedConnect by the required deadline.

Contact:
Matthew Huber huber.matthew@epa.gov

More Information:
https://www.epa.gov/sbir/sbir-funding-opportunities

Green Innovation Grant Program

The Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) supports projects across New York State that utilize unique EPA-designated green stormwater infrastructure design and create cutting-edge green technologies.

Competitive grants are awarded annually to projects that improve water quality and mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of one or more of the following green practices: Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency and Environmental Innovation.

Program Priorities:

Climate Change Mitigation: Projects that implement one of the eligible Green Practices to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases and/or support clean energy initiatives.

Environmental Justice: Projects that use Green Practices to advance the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, income, national origin or color, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Integration: Water infrastructure projects that integrate green stormwater infrastructure into traditional gray infrastructure projects to demonstrate the value of water quality improvements to the community and ecosystem to provide water quality benefits. The planning process for such projects should include the evaluation of important community benefits such as economic opportunity, climate action, and water equity.

Natural Restoration: Projects that demonstrate the effectiveness of green stormwater infrastructure in a natural environment, such as flood plains, riparian buffers, streams, and wetlands.

Transformation: Larger transformative projects that utilize Green Practices to provide multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits. These projects align with larger goals of the community or region.

Funding Source:
NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Funding Amount:
Grants range from a minimum of 50% up to a maximum of 90% of total eligible project costs up to a maximum of $3 million. The grant amount is determined based on the eligible project costs as estimated in the application for planning, design and construction.

Match Requirements:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation
518-402-6954
GIGP@efc.ny.gov

More Information:
https://www.efc.ny.gov/GIGP

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)

The CWSRF provides interest-free or low-interest rate financing for wastewater and sewer infrastructure projects to municipalities throughout New York State. EFC provides both short and long-term financing, interest-free or low interest to accommodate municipalities of all population sizes with varying financial needs.

Eligible Recipients:
Funding is available for financing community water supply systems. Eligible applicants include municipalities, Indian reservations wholly within NYS and water authorities.

Eligible Projects:
The program funds a large variety of projects aimed at water quality improvement. Applicants must first list their projects on the CWSRF Intended Use Plan (IUP) Annual List before being eligible for funding. Funds are provided as they become available and more applicants may apply than the amount of funds available for the year. Eligible projects and costs include municipally owned treatment works projects, stormwater/non-point source (NPS) projects, national estuary projects; and construction, repair, or replacement of municipal decentralized wastewater treatment systems that treat municipal wastewater or domestic sewage.

Cost Share Requirements:
Eligible water quality projects whose primary purpose is water protection may be financed for the entire cost of the project. Projects with a primary purpose other than water quality may be eligible for partial financing.

Funding Source:
NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Deadline:
Continuous

Contact:
NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Tel: 518-402-6924

Email: cwsrfinfo@efc.ny.gov

More Information:
https://www.efc.ny.gov/CWSRF
https://efc.ny.gov/BIL
https://efc.ny.gov/cwsrf-apply
https://plus.efc.ny.gov/plus/

USDA Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Through creative problem solving and innovation, CIG partners work to address our nation’s water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations.

Eligible Recipients:
National and State CIG – all non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.

Eligible Projects:
CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research.

CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:
• Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and
• Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.

Projects or activities under CIG must:
• Comply with all applicable Federal, Tribal, State, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project;
• Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
• Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
• Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption; and
• Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.

Funding Source:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Funding Amount:
The total amount of Federal funding the agency expects to award through this opportunity is $15 million. The agency expects to make between 15 and 25 awards. The maximum CIG award is set annually by the NRCS Chief and historically has been either $1 million or $2 million. An applicant’s CIG funding request must be matched at least 1:1 with non-federal funding.

Application Deadline:
A CIG funding notice is announced each year.

Contact:
Complete applications must be submitted through grants.gov and e-mailed to the NRCS National Office at nrcscig@wdc.usda.gov.

More Information:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/

Water Quality Improvement Project Program

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) supports water quality improvements through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Statewide Grant Program. The WQIP program is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that directs funds from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund to projects that reduce polluted runoff, improve water quality, and restore habitat in New York’s water bodies.

Eligible Recipients:

  • Municipalities (villages, towns & cities)
  • Soil and Water Conservation Districts
  • Not for Profit Corporations (in some cases)

Eligible Projects:

The five basic types of projects eligible for funding:

  • Municipal Wastewater Treatment
  • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)
  • Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control
  • Aquatic Habitat Restoration
  • Water Quality Management

The NYS DEC can provide up to 85% of wastewater treatment improvements and 75% of non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, habitat restoration, and municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4).

Funding Source:
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
NYSDEC
Division of Water
Bureau of Program Resources
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
518-402-8267
dowinfo@gw.dec.state.ny.us

More Information:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/4774.html

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

The DWSRF provides a significant financial incentive for public and private water systems to finance needed drinking water infrastructure improvements (e.g. treatment plants, distribution mains, storage facilities).  The DWSRF provides subsidized low-interest rate financing and limited grants for construction of eligible water system projects. As financings are repaid, money will be available to be used again for new financings—a true revolving fund. For communities with demonstrated financial hardship, interest rates can be reduced to as low as zero percent.

Eligible Recipients:
Drinking water systems that are eligible for funding are community water systems, both public and privately owned, and non-profit, non-community water systems.

Eligible Projects:
Projects eligible for DWSRF financing include investments to upgrade or replace infrastructure:

  • Rehabilitation or development of new drinking water sources to replace contaminated supplies.
  • Installation or upgrading of facilities if the project will improve the quality of drinking water to comply with primary or secondary standards or treatment/performance criteria.
  • Installation or upgrading of storage facilities.
  • Installation or replacement of transmission and distribution mains to prevent contamination caused by leaks or breaks.
  • Funding/construction to promote the consolidation of water
    supply services.
  • The purchase of a portion of another system’s capacity.
  • Security of drinking water systems.

Funding Source:
NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Continuous

Contact:
NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12207
1-800-882-9721
518-402-7433
bpwsp@health.state.ny.us

More Information:
https://www.efc.ny.gov/DWSRF

Water and Wastewater Revolving Fund Grants

The Revolving Fund (RFP) Grant Program assists communities with water and wastewater systems. Qualified private non-profit organizations will receive RFP grant funds to establish a lending program for eligible entities. This grant program is to serve a rural area with a population not in excess
of 10,000.

Eligible Recipients:
Grants may be made to a private non-profit corporation that has a tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, has the legal capacity and authority to carry out the purpose, has a proven record of successfully operating a revolving loan fund to rural areas, has no delinquent debt to the Federal Government nor any outstanding judgments to repay a Federal debt, and demonstrates that it possesses the financial, technical and managerial capacity to comply with Federal and State laws and requirements.

Eligible Projects:
The grant recipients will use the grant funds to establish a revolving loan fund. The loans will be made to eligible entities to finance pre-development costs of water and wastewater projects or short-term small capital improvement projects not part of the regular operations and maintenance of current water and wastewater systems. The amount of financing to an eligible entity shall not exceed $100,000 and shall be repaid in a term not to exceed 10 years. The rate shall be determined in the approved grant work plan.

Funding Source:
USDA Rural Development

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) Staff

More Information:
www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWP-revolvingfund.html

Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant

Grants are awarded to municipalities to help pay for the initial planning of eligible Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) water quality projects. The grant will assist municipalities with a Median Household Income (MHI) of $65,000 or less with the engineering and planning costs.

Eligible Recipients:

  • Community water supply systems, both public and privately owned
  • Nonprofit, non-community water supply systems

Eligible Projects:
Grants will be provided to finance activities including engineering and/or consultant fees for engineering and planning services for the production of an engineering report.

Funding Source:
NYS DEC and NYS EFC

Funding Amount:
Varies. A max of $100,000 can be awarded with a 20% match from the recipient.

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
NYSEFC
Division of Engineering and Program Management
625 Broadway
Albany NY 12207
518-402-7433
cwsrfinfo@efc.ny.gov

More Information:
https://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/81196.html

Water and Waste Water Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants

Through technical assistance and training, this program helps private non-profits (a) identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; (b) assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste water disposal loans/grants; and (c) assist associations in improving operation and maintenance of existing water and waste water facilities in eligible rural areas.

Eligible Recipients:
Non-profits capable of providing technical assistance to Tribal Lands or rural areas with 10,000 or fewer people.

Eligible Projects:

  • Assist in preparing water and waste disposal and grant applications.
  • Provide technical assistance and training to improve existing water and waste disposal systems’ management, operations, and maintenance.
  • Identify and evaluate solutions to water problems related to source, storage, treatment, and distribution, treatment, collection, and disposal.

Funding Source:
USDA Rural Development

Funding Amount:
Varies

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
USDA-RD
The Galleries of Syracuse
441 South Salina Street,
Suite 357
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-477-6400
www.rudev.usda.gov/ny/
Or: Contact Local Field Office

More Information:
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-waste-disposal-technical-assistance-training-grants