Financial Assistance
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Grant Opportunities
NEW Condition Assessment Grant Online Application (Program Year 2026 Online Application Opening Soon)
The purpose of this program is to help small community public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide a continuous source of safe drinking water in a more efficient way by contracting with a third-party to assist with a condition assessment program development. The program allows grants of up to $20,000 for water systems to work with a third-party contractor to conduct a condition assessment program (CAP) for asset management.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community public water systems with populations under 10k, prioritizing systems with documented asset management issues.
Eligible Project Costs
The program allows grants of up to $20,000 for water systems to work with a third-party contractor to conduct a condition assessment program for asset management.
- Condition assessment program (CAP) development conducted by a third-party contractor, which must include:
- An identified focus area for condition assessment program development, such as: small water treatment plant, distribution system: water storage tanks, booster station pumps, water lines, valves, or hydrants;
- Asset inventory updates, including: asset ID, type of condition assessment completed, and frequency for follow up routine condition assessments;
- A standard operating procedure (SOP) detailing continued condition assessment review on an annual basis;
- A list of replacement plans for the selected focus area assets and a budget for implementation of the program.
- The selected third-party contractor should provide a final report detailing the work completed and future planning efforts, along with reimbursement documentation.
Grant Application and Guidelines
This online application form is intended for grant requests for funding not to exceed $20,000 per system. For this funding round, online applications are open from November 3, 2025, to December 19, 2025, at 3pm. A written award or denial will be issued by Ohio EPA within 90 days from the close of the application period.
Click Submit an Application to access the online application (opening soon).
For questions regarding the online application or the grant process, please email inquiries to: DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov.
Emergency Generator Grant Online Application (Program Year 2024 and 2025 Award Emails Sent. Program Year 2026 Online Applications Opening Soon)
Given the unpredictable nature of power failures, it is critical that water systems acquire onsite alternative power sources as part of their contingency planning. To help public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide a continuous source of safe drinking water, Ohio EPA is offering grants to reimburse the initial cost of emergency generators and necessary accessories.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community public water systems serving less than 10,000 population that do not have an emergency generator to power their water treatment plant or critical distribution infrastructure are eligible to apply.
Eligible Activities
Given the unpredictable nature of power failures, it is critical that water systems acquire onsite alternative power sources as part of their contingency planning. To help public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide a continuous source of safe drinking water, Ohio EPA is offering grants of up to $50,000 to reimburse the initial cost of emergency generators and necessary accessories. Only costs incurred during the project period are eligible for reimbursement.
Eligible Costs Include:
- Dedicated emergency generator capable of treating water and pumping to the distribution system during power outages to meet the average day demand. Must be equipped with an automatic switchover.
2. Dedicated emergency generator for critical infrastructure within the distribution system. Must be equipped with an automatic switchover.
3. Automatic switchgear.
4. Training on the use of the emergency generator.
Application and Deadlines
This online application form is intended for grant requests for funding not to exceed $50,000 per system. For this funding round, online applications are open from November 3, 2025, to December 19, 2025, at 3pm. A written award or denial will be issued by Ohio EPA within 90 days from the close of the application period.
Click Submit an Application to access the online application (opening soon).
For questions regarding the online application or the grant process, please email inquiries to: DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov.
Source Water Protection Strategies Grant Online Application (Program Year 2024 and 2025 Award Emails Sent. Program Year 2026 Online Application Opening Soon)
Ohio EPA is pleased to announce a source water protection grant opportunity. Grants are being offered to reimburse costs for source water protection strategies limited to a maximum of $20,000 for proposed strategy implementation. Priority will be given to those public water systems with a high susceptibility to contamination and use ground water as their source.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community public water systems. Public water systems with smaller populations and public water systems that have a high susceptibility to contamination as well as systems with high-risk potential contaminant sources within their inner management zones/corridor management zones or source water protection areas will be prioritized for funding.
Eligible Activities
These funds will be used to support the implementation of specific and measurable protective strategies to help protect source water for Ohio’s community public water systems.
Awards are limited to a maximum of $20,000 in reimbursable funds per proposed strategy for implementation. Only costs incurred during the project period are eligible for reimbursement. The public water system must provide documentation of implementation of the protection strategy within 60 days of the end of the project period to receive reimbursement.
Eligible Costs Include:
- Creation or improvement of the PWS’s website to provide information specific to source water protection and protection of the community water supply.
- Development of source water protection brochures, posters, lesson plans and related materials for use in schools and/or to distribute to local residents, businesses, farmers.
- Purchase of sand tank model or watershed model.
- Purchasing of source water protection signs (following Ohio source water protection sign templates) to install at the delineated source water protection area boundaries.
- Spill protection materials for portable spill kits to provide to businesses in the community within the source water protection area.
- Purchasing spill containment booms to protect public water system surface water intakes in case of upstream releases.
- Installation of early warning ground water monitoring wells between the PWS wellfield and a high-risk potential contaminant source (costs to include the driller and materials and supplies).
- Installation of semi-permanent surface water quality monitoring instrumentation to monitor water quality upstream of a PWS intake.
- Implementation of BMPs in the corridor management zone such as: a) Tile/water control structures in fields that can reduce nutrient, pathogen, and pesticide loading from drainage systems into downstream receiving waters, b) Riparian planting (trees) as buffers, c) Water retention features (wetlands, retention basins, WASCOBs, grassed waterways (stacking).
*BMPs in the source water protection area may be approved, depending on the justification provided in the application.
Protective Strategies other than the list above may be approved, depending on grant applications received and funding available.
Application and Deadlines
This online application form is intended for grant requests for funding not to exceed $20,000 per strategy. For this funding round, online applications are open from Nov. 3, 2025 to Dec. 19, 2025 at 3 p.m. A written award or denial will be issued by Ohio EPA within 90 days from the close of the application.
Click Submit an Application to access the online application (opening soon).
For questions regarding the online application or the grant process, please email inquiries to: DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov.
Well Abandonment Grant Online Application (Program Year 2024 and 2025 Award Emails Sent. Program Year 2026 Online Applications Opening Soon)
Grants are being offered to reimburse the cost of abandoning public water system wells that are no longer in use.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community public water systems. Public water systems with smaller populations and public water systems that have a high susceptibility to contamination as well as systems with high-risk potential contaminant sources within their inner management zones/corridor management zones or source water protection areas will be prioritized for funding.
Eligible Activities
These funds will be used to properly abandon existing inactive wells at community water systems that pose a risk to active public water supply sources or the environment.
Awards are limited to a maximum of $15,000 in reimbursable funds per well. Only costs incurred during the project period are eligible for reimbursement. The public water system must provide documentation of the well abandonment, including well sealing report, within 60 days of the end of the project period to receive reimbursement.
Eligible Costs Include:
Materials and supplies necessary to properly plug abandoned wells in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3745-9.
Application and Deadlines
This online application form is intended for grant requests for funding not to exceed $15,000 per well. For this funding round, online applications are open from Nov. 3, 2025, to Dec. 19, 2025, at 3 p.m. A written award or denial will be issued by Ohio EPA within 90 days from the close of the application.
Click Submit an Application to access the online application (opening soon).
For questions regarding the online application or the grant process, please email inquiries to: DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov.
Asset Management Grant Online Application (Program Year 2024 Award Emails Sent)
This program is intended to assist eligible public water systems in developing and updating their asset management program. The program allows grants of up to $15,000 for water systems to conduct asset management initiatives for drinking water infrastructure.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community and not-for-profit non-transient, non-community public water systems are eligible to apply.
Eligible Project Costs
The grant program allows grants of up to $15,000 for water systems to conduct asset management initiatives for drinking water infrastructure.
Grant Application and Guidelines
A new online application form is available here: Submit an Application tab. For this funding round, online applications will be available January 8, 2024 and will remain open until 3:00 PM on February 23, 2024. A written award or denial will be issued by Ohio EPA within 60 days from the close of the application round.
Questions?
Contact DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov with questions throughout the grant process.
Water Audit and Water Loss Control Grant Online Application (Program Year 2025 Award Emails Sent)
Ohio intends to provide technical assistance to small community public water systems by providing grants to complete an initial water audit and establish a water loss control program. The purpose of these grants is to help small community public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide a continuous source of safe drinking water in a more efficient way by contracting with a third-party to assist with a water audit and water loss control program development. The maximum grant award amount will be $20,000. Grants may only be requested for activities conducted on or after the start of the grant program.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community public water systems serving less than 10,000 population prioritizing systems with documented water loss control issues.
Eligible Activities
The purpose of this program is to help small community public water systems increase their technical capacity to provide a continuous source of safe drinking water in a more efficient way by contracting with a third-party to assist with a water audit and water loss control program development. The program allows grants of up to $20,000 for water systems to work with a third-party contractor to conduct an initial water audit and develop a water loss control program.
Awards are limited to a maximum of $20,000 in reimbursable funds per system. Only costs incurred during the project period are eligible for reimbursement. The public water system must provide documentation of the water audit and water loss control program development, including a final report, within 60 days of the end of the project period to receive reimbursement.
Eligible Costs Include:
- Initial water loss control program development conducted by a third-party contractor, which must include:
- A thorough water audit.
- A plan or intervention process to address findings of the water audit and reduce or eliminate water losses.
- An evaluation to determine if planned steps to address water loss issues would be successful.
- A final report from the selected third-party contractor detailing the outcomes of initial program development and future planning should be provided with reimbursement documentation.
Application and Deadlines
This online application form is intended for grant requests for funding not to exceed $20,000 per strategy. For this funding round, online applications are open from Nov. 4, 2024, to Dec. 20, 2024, at 3 p.m. A written award or denial will be issued by Ohio EPA within 90 days from the close of the application.
Click Submit an Application to access the online application.
For questions regarding the online application or the grant process, please email inquiries to: DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov
H2Ohio Public Water System Equipment Grant (Award Emails Sent)
Ohio EPA is pleased to announce a public water system equipment grant opportunity. Grants are being offered to reimburse the initial cost of valve exercising, leak detection and meter accuracy testing equipment. This grant opportunity is made possible by Governor Mike DeWine's H2Ohio initiative. H2Ohio is a comprehensive and data-driven approach to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater, and water infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination. For more information on this grant opportunity please see the grant application and guidelines below.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Who is Eligible?
Ohio community public water systems are eligible to apply.
Eligible Equipment
- Valve exercising equipment;
- Amplified Listening Devices to detect leaks in the distribution system;
- Pressure loggers;
- Clamp-on flow meters to check accuracy of meters;
- Metal pipe locators; and
- Training on the use of the above equipment
Other equipment may be requested and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Grant Application and Guidelines
Applications will be accepted starting on December 20, 2022 and will remain open until 5:00 PM on January 25, 2023. A written award or denial determination will be issued by Ohio EPA within 90 days from the close of the application.
H2Ohio Public Water System Equipment Grant Application and Guidelines (PDF) (Word)
Questions?
Contact DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov with questions throughout the grant process.
H2Ohio Lead Service Line Inventory and Mapping Grant (Award Emails Sent)
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) is pleased to announce the second round of the H2Ohio Lead Line Mapping Grant. This grant opportunity assists public water systems with preparing service line inventories as required by the U.S. EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and to be better positioned for future lead service line replacement projects. Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems are encouraged to apply. This grant is made possible by Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative. H2Ohio is a comprehensive and data-driven approach to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater, water infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination in Ohio.
Awarded funds and ready to submit for reimbursement?
Click the link below to download the Reimbursement Request Form.
Application and Guidelines
Applications will be accepted starting on August 11, 2022 and will remain open until 4:00 PM on September 9, 2022. Grant applications will be reviewed and scored after September 9, 2022. A written award or denial determination will be issued by Ohio EPA within 30 to 60 days from the close of the application.
To learn more please review the Lead Service Line Inventory and Mapping Grant Application and Guidelines below:
- Lead Service Line Inventory and Mapping Grant Guidelines
- Lead Service Line Inventory and Mapping Grant Application
If you have any questions or need assistance please reach out to Ohio EPA by e-mail at DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov.
Questions?
Contact DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov with questions throughout the grant process.
Resources
- U.S. EPA Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement Webinars
- Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative
- American Water Works Association (AWWA) video: Lets Get the Lead Out
Service Line Inventory Assistance Program
Service Line Inventory Assistance Round 2 Awarded March 26, 2025
The second round of service line inventory development and lead service line replacement planning assistance was awarded to systems serving populations between 3k and 13k on March 26, 2025. Pending additional vendor capacity and funding availability, Ohio EPA will have a third round of awards based on the remaining list of applicants. Water systems that applied but were not chosen in the first and second rounds do not need to submit anything further to be considered for future assistance.
Service Line Inventory Assistance Round 1 Awarded Sept. 6, 2024
The first round of service line inventory development and lead service line replacement planning assistance was awarded to applicant systems serving less than 3,000 population on Sept. 6, 2024.
Who is eligible?
All Ohio community and not-for-profit non-transient non-community water systems are eligible.
Eligible Project Costs
The program allows Ohio EPA to match approved contractors with eligible public water systems who have requested assistance in completing their required service line inventories depending upon the needs of each system.
Grant Application and Guidelines
Pending additional vendor capacity and funding availability, Ohio EPA will consider a third round of awards if possible. Systems do not need to reapply in order to be considered for round 3 assistance. If further capacity is determined to be available, another application period may open in the future. Please watch this webpage for up-to-date information on the program.
Questions?
Contact DDAGW.Grants@epa.ohio.gov with questions throughout the grant process.
Drinking Water Assistance Fund
The Drinking Water Assistance Fund (DWAF) includes the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA), Source Water Assessment and Protection program, and technical assistance through the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP).
The WSRLA provides financial assistance for the planning, design and construction of improvements to community water systems and non-profit, non-community public water systems. Below-market interest rates are offered for public health or compliance related infrastructure improvements to public water systems. The nomination deadline occurs at the beginning of March each year.
The Disadvantaged Community Loan Program (DCLP) is a sub-section of the WSRLA program. The DCLP provides funding assistance to drinking water systems in need of design, planning, and construction improvements. To qualify for assistance, the system must have documented public health issues and have an annual water and sewer rate (cost per household), which is disproportionately high compared to the median household income of the service area. The nomination deadline occurs at the beginning of March each year.
Disadvantaged Community Principal Forgiveness
Disadvantaged community determinations are determined in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules 3745-88-01 and 3745-88-02 and are described in detail in Appendix E.
Systems that qualify for and receive funding are required to complete two Rural Communities Assistance Program (RCAP) courses within five years prior to loan award: 101 Utility Management for Local Officials and 201 Financial Management for Local Officials. A minimum of 50 percent of the presiding council members or governing board members for the water system must complete the training. Both courses are offered free of charge and are available online or in a classroom setting.
Drinking Water Emergency Loan Fund
The Drinking Water Emergency Loan Fund (DWELF) provides emergency loans to public water systems for remediation of a threat of contamination, which means anything that prevents a public water system from supplying adequate quantities of safe, potable water to existing users. Any Ohio public water system with a valid license to operate (LTO) that is able to document a threat of contamination is eligible to apply.
Asset Management
The intent of an asset management program (AMP) is to provide public water systems (PWSs) with a tool to better manage, operate, and maintain their water system so that the PWS can cost-effectively and consistently meet safe drinking water requirements. The minimum requirements of an asset management program are established in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 6109.24 and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3745-87. For more information, please visit DDAGW's Asset Management website.
Training
- Rural Community Assistance Program Training for DWAF Principal Forgiveness
- Ohio RCAP Free Classroom and Online Training
Resources
- Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA)
- Small System Guidance, U.S. EPA
- Public Drinking Water Systems Program, U.S. EPA
- Small Systems Guide to the Safe Drinking Water Act, U.S. EPA
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Small Water System Financing Workshop
The following presentations were given by Glenn Barnes from the Environmental Finance Center Network: