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Water Conservation Grant Program

Bureau of Resource Protection

Division of Municipal Services, Steven J. McCurdy, Director

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Laurie Burt, Commissioner

June - 2010

Introduction

The MassDEP's Water Conservation Grant Program awards funds to municipalities and public water systems to encourage and enhance local drinking water conservation efforts. Up to $60,000 per proposal or a total of up to $800,000 is expected to be awarded to eligible public water systems for FFY 2011.

Eligible Projects

Project tasks/costs eligible for funding are listed below; however, all proposed projects that focus on drinking water conservation, loss identification, resolution, and prevention will be considered.

  • Water Audits to balance the volume of drinking water produced with the volume billed, and account for the remaining water (loss). Proposed audits should use the guidance available on MassDEP's website: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/approvals/guidance.pdf.
  • Leak Detection Surveys that demonstrate a commitment to undertake leak repair. Grant funds can be used for comprehensive surveys using data loggers and leak detection correlators or, if justified, the purchase of such equipment.
  • Water Conservation Outreach and Education Programs promoting awareness of the long-term economic and environmental benefits of water conservation, to include but not limited to; working with schools, producing local cable or newspaper announcements, distributing water conservation education information and low water use concepts to agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential consumers.
  • Rebates for low-flow WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures (especially toilets) and CEE-qualified appliances.
  • Water Rate Surveys for the purposes of establishing water rates to assure appropriate revenues to support maintenance needs and capital projects for improvements to the water works system. Grantees should have conducted a water audit and leak detection survey within the previous two years prior to the implementation of a rate study or may conduct such as part of the proposed grant project.

Eligibility

  • Proposed projects must provide a twenty-five percent (25%) match of the requested grant amount. In-kind services are eligible as a match.
  • The direct recipient of the grant must be a public water system or municipality. Projects may be developed, carried out, and completed by non-governmental organizations, regional planning agencies, consultants, etc. on behalf of public water systems.
  • Leak detection survey projects must commit to follow-up repair of detected leaks.
  • Projects must provide an appropriate method for quantifying environmental results such as the water and cost savings from leaks repaired, retrofits, etc.

Ineligible Projects/Expenses

  • Land or conservation restriction purchases
  • Offset feasibility studies
  • Operation and maintenance expenses
  • Vehicle purchase or travel-related expenses
  • Office equipment purchases
  • GIS-related expenses*
  • Meter rehabilitation, testing, calibration, or replacement costs *
  • Capital Improvements (meters, pipes, valves, etc.) *
  • Retrofit kits (shower heads, faucet aerators, dye tabs, etc.)*

* Please note: these items are eligible as in-kind match contributions.

Selection Criteria

1) Proposals will be rated and evaluated on the basis of:

  • Addressing an identified problem meeting demand (i.e., the public water system is operating under a MassDEP authorized Water Emergency Declaration).
  • Proposed measures of success - ability to quantify project's impact in gallons of water and dollars saved over the course of a year.
  • Preference for public water systems that document existing water conservation programs and policies (for example; budget line-items supporting annual leak detection surveys and water audits, or meter replacement policies that reflect the State guidance).
  • Proposals that provide evidence that the public water system commits to calibrating source water venturi metering systems twice a year and conforms to the American Water Works Association's calibration and replacement standards for other in-line metering systems to ensure the accuracy of recording water volumes.

2) Project proposals should address the following:

  • Public Health - support public health by ensuring promotion of projects that maximize the protection of public health.
  • Planning - be in compliance with long term planning efforts.
  • Implementation clearly describing how the project will be carried out including: methodology, time lines, and personnel that will complete the outlined project tasks.
  • Detailed level of commitment for repair of detected leaks.
  • Sustainability - linkage to long term drinking water conservation goals and standards established by the Water Resources Commission and MassDEP. These can be accessed at http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/eea/water/water-conservation-standards.pdf.
  • Existing Efforts - proposal supports documented ongoing educational efforts, water audits, leak detection surveys, full cost pricing, etc.
  • Budget - costs should be clearly delineaed, reasonable and justifiable, the required 25% match must be documented.
  • Comprehensive Projects - proposals including a combination of eligible project tasks.
  • Projects that incorporate a watershed approach to identify and reduce water loss.
  • Pricing policies that strongly encourage water conservation.

Application Process

This program year, the Water Conservation Grant Program anticipates posting a Request for Response (RFR) and related information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Procurement Assessment Solicitation System Web site (http://www.comm-pass.com) on June 18, 2010, with responses due August 3, 2010. Competitive applications must respond to the RFR's project goals, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria.

Background

The Water Conservation Grant Program will award funds to municipalities and public water systems to encourage and enhance local drinking water conservation efforts. Federal and/or state funds provide monies for this grant program in support of Massachusetts Water Resources Commission and MassDEP watershed management policies and water conservation initiatives, as well as the Massachusetts Water Policy developed through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Additional Information:

Water Audit Guidance: www.mass.gov/dep/water/approvals/guidance.pdf
EPA's WaterSense Program: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/label.htm
Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE): http://www.cee1.org/
Water Pricing Information: www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/pricing/index.htm
Grant Matching: www.mass.gov/dep/water/wcgmatch.htm
Massachusetts Water Conservation Standards: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/eea/water/water-conservation-standards.pdf
Commonwealth Procurement Assessment Solicitation System: www.comm-pass.com
Example of Past Projects: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/grants.htm#sums

Contacts:

For more information about this grant program contact the following MassDEP staff:

Division of Municipal Services:

Malcolm Harper (Program Coordinator), 508-767-2795

MassDEP Municipal Services and Drinking Water Program Regional Offices:

Northeast:
Kevin Brander, 978-694-3236

Southeast:
Richard Keith, 508-946-2784

Central:
Barbara Kickham, 508-767-2724

Western:
Mike McGrath, 413-755-2202
Jim Bumgardner, 413-755-2270