2026 Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Informational Webinar
Please
register here for a free informational webinar on
Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. (PST) to learn how this program can help you:
- Protect your drinking water sources from contamination risks
- Fund projects that safeguard your aquifer, spring, or surface water intake
- Get one-on-one technical support from DEQ and OHA staff
Webinar #1 Slides
The application period will be open mid-January through mid-March 2026, so now is a great time to start thinking about any source water protection issues you'd like to address. Proposed projects would need to reduce the risk of potential contaminants within the aquifer or surface watershed that contributes water to your drinking water well, spring or intake.
Accepting Applications for Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) activities from January 22 to March 12, 2026.
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 $70,000 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 2026, eligible public water systems may apply for land acquisition (conservation) planning grants (up to a maximum of $70,000). 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. In addition, the Agencies are piloting a grant offering for Regional Source Water Collaborative projects (up to a maximum of $175,000 per project). Regional Source Water Collaborative grants are intended to support projects that reduce risks and foster regional coordination among public water systems using groundwater and surface water sources. Eligible projects will include a larger water system or group of larger water systems working with smaller water systems that are located within the larger systems’ 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: 2026 Drinking Water Source Protection Fund
- Low interest loans up to a maximum of $100,000
- Source protection grant up to $70,000 per water system
- Land acquisition (conservation) planning grants up to $70,000 per project
- Regional Source Water Collaborative grants up to $175,000 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.