Federal grant programs / Environmental Protection Agency

Innovative Water Technology Grant Program (66.521)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.9 million
• Grant awards4
• Typical award$999,148
• Awarded in FY 2025$0
• Size rank1,667 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceGrant

Key findings

• It is the 1667th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• Awards went to recipients in 3 states and territories.

What the program funds

The purpose of this program is to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative water technologies that address pressing drinking water supply, quality, treatment, or security challenges of public water systems, areas served by private wells, or source waters. This program supports grants: (1) to develop, test, and deploy innovative water technologies; or (2) to provide technical assistance to deploy demonstrated innovative water technologies.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency’s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Only these types of organizations may apply. Organization types are consistent with definitions at 2 CFR 200.1: Public water systems located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions. Public water system, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 300f(4), means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five individuals. Such term includes (i) any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and (ii) any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system. Privately and publicly owned public water systems that meet the definition of a public water system in 42 U.S.C. 300f(4) are eligible to apply. Institutions of higher education (IHEs) located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions. Research institutions or foundations located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions. Regional water organizations located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

What the money can and cannot pay for

Assistance awards will focus on the development, testing, and deployment of innovative water technologies or technical assistance to deploy demonstrated innovative water technologies. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial. The funding mechanism for all awards issued under this program will consist of assistance agreements from the EPA. All award decisions are subject to the availability of funds. In accordance with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, 31 U.S.C. 6301 et seq., the primary purpose of an assistance agreement is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by federal statute, rather than acquisition for the direct benefit or use of the Agency. EPA award recipients may incur allowable project costs 90 calendar days before the Federal awarding agency makes the Federal award. Expenses more than 90 calendar days pre-award require prior approval of EPA. All costs incurred before EPA makes the award are at the recipient's risk. EPA is under no obligation to reimburse such costs if for any reason the recipient does not receive a Federal award or if the Federal award is less than anticipated and inadequate to cover such costs.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. As required under 42 U.S.C. 300j-1a(e), each applicant must contribute a minimum non-federal cost share/match of 35% of the total allowable project costs. This is equivalent at a minimum to 53.846% of the federal amount. If the applicant is successful, the assistance agreement will display cost share as a percentage of total project costs. Cost share may include in-kind contributions. In order to be eligible for funding consideration, applicants must demonstrate in their applications how they will meet the required minimum 35% cost share/match in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306. The cost share/match may be provided in cash or can come from in-kind contributions, such as the use of volunteers and/or donated time, equipment, etc., subject to the regulations governing matching fund requirements at 2 CFR §200.306. Cost share/matching funds are considered grant funds and are included in the total award amount.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Deadlines

For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs).

Award range and average, in the agency's words

New awards range from $998,295 to $1,000,000. Average award total is $999,400. Awards are multi-year.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Please visit https://www.epa.gov/research-grants for a list of funded projects under this program.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Nonprofits received 75% of the money, colleges and universities 25%.

By state

2 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Virginia and West Virginia.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.