Established in 2010, the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides federal leadership and financial assistance for the efficient use of water in the Western United States. Each year, Reclamation allocates millions of dollars in grant funding through the WaterSMART Program to support Western States, tribes, and local water providers as they plan and implement actions to advance their water efficiency and supply reliability priorities.
What is WaterSMART?
The WaterSMART program was created to address the Western United States’ serious water challenges – widespread drought, increased population, aging infrastructure, and environmental water requirements that all place strain on water resources. The WaterSMART Program funds local water management programs that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict, or accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability, among other objectives.
Since 2010, the WaterSMART Program contributed $940 million in Federal funds with over $3 billion in non-Federal cost share for 887 water resources planning and on-the-ground projects in the Western US.
There are 6 unique water supply reliability programs that operate under the WaterSMART program. You can find more details about WaterSMART funded projects on Reclamation’s WaterSMART Data Visualization Tool.
Through our WaterSMART Grant Application Support & Help Desk program, WaterNow can support Colorado water providers with no-cost, hands-on assistance to navigate and apply for WaterSMART grants. WaterNow provides support on eight of the WaterSMART opportunities:
Explore the dropdowns below for more details on each funding opportunity and click here to learn more about WaterNow’s WaterSMART Grant Application Support & Help Desk program.
Guidebook available to help communities understand and access funding made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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Bureau of Reclamation's 2010-2016 progress report on the WaterSMART program finding an expected water savings of 1.14 million acre-feet per year.
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Bureau of Reclamation's 2016 WaterSMART program progress report fact sheet.
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Eligibility & Application Process
Entities eligible for funding opportunities through the WaterSMART Program are:
States
Tribes
Irrigation districts
Water districts
Organizations (including state, regional, or local authorities) with water or power delivery authority in the Western United States or United States territories
Non-profit conservation organizations acting in partnership with any of the entities above
In addition, to be eligible, grant applicants must be located in enumerated states and territories, which include those shown on the below map, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
In order to apply for funding, water providers must be able to cover a percentage of total project costs with non-Federal funding (the percentage ranges from 0 – 50%, depending on the grant). Non-Federal funding can include (but is not limited to): cash, in-kind contributions, state grants or loans, and/or philanthropic grants. For most WaterSMART program grants, cost-shared project must be completed within two to three years.
Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are available at grants.gov. Specific NOFOs should be reviewed carefully as the application requirements change regularly. The application window for WaterSMART Program grants is typically open for two to three months. Application processes will vary for each grant opportunity however all applications will require:
A technical proposal that includes an executive summary, project description and evaluation criteria
A project budget
Overview of environmental and cultural resource compliance
An official resolution from the entity’s governing board
Complete federal forms
Registration on the System for Award Management
And registration on grants.gov (in order to submit an application electronically)
The resources linked below provide further information about WaterSMART eligibilities and application requirements.
WaterNow quick-reference guide on how to determine your eligibility for federal funding.
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Two Pathways to Applying for Grants on Grants.gov Workspace
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Program Notifications & Resources
The WaterSMART grants featured in this section below are available annually and typically open at different times each year. To stay up to date with the latest news, grant opportunity announcements, and program notifications, complete this form to join Reclamation’s mailing list.
Additionally, if you’re interested in applying to a WaterSMART funding opportunity and would like to learn more about our WaterSMART Grant Application Support & Help Desk program, fill out this short form and we’ll be in touch!
Water & Energy Efficiency Grants
Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (WEEG) focus on large-scale projects that result in quantifiable and sustained water savings. Criteria also place a priority on projects that support broader water reliability benefits, including multiple benefits achieved through collaboration.
For municipal water providers, eligible localized infrastructure projects include outdoor and indoor water use efficiency programs such as:
Landscape irrigation measures such as turf replacement, smart irrigation controllers, and high efficiency sprinkler heads
Projects that promote the installation of high-efficiency indoor appliances and fixtures that provide water savings through rebates or direct-install programs
Installing end-user water service meters, such as AMI (advanced metering infrastructure)
Applicants can request federal funding up to $500,000 for projects to be completed within two years, $2 million for projects to be completed within three years, and $5 million for large projects to be completed within three years, all with a 50% non-Federal cost-share match.
Example WEEG Evaluation Criteria from FY24/FY25 NOFO.
Since the NOFO is open to a variety of project types, Evaluation Criteria A-D may not apply to every project. For example, a water savings project (Criterion A) may not include implementation of a renewable energy component (Criterion B).
Reclamation typically awards 25 – 35 projects annually, contingent on Federal appropriations. For example, in FY22 Reclamation awarded $42.8 million in WEEG funding to 36 communities and in FY23 Reclamation awarded $140 million to 84 communities.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on upcoming grant opportunities.
Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects
The Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP) grant is for small-scale, on-the-ground water management projects that seek to conserve, better manage, or otherwise make more efficient use of water supplies. Projects supported by an existing water management and conservation plan, System Optimization Review, or other planning effort led by the applicant are prioritized.
Similar to the WEEG program, for municipal water providers, eligible distributed infrastructure projects include outdoor and indoor water use efficiency programs such as:
Turf replacement, smart controllers, and high efficiency nozzles
High-efficiency indoor appliances and fixtures
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
The SWEP application is designed to be as streamlined as possible in order for small to mid-sized utilities to be able to apply and compared to WEEG, there’s less emphasis placed on quantified water savings.
Applicants may request up to $100,000 in Federal funding, with a non-Federal cost-share of 50% or more of total project costs, for projects with total costs generally no more than $225,000.
Example SWEP FY24 & FY25 Evaluation Criteria are included below.
Reclamation typically awards 50 – 70 projects annually, contingent on Federal appropriations. For example, in FY 21 Reclamation awarded $5.5 million for 82 water projects and in FY22 Reclamation awarded $7.04 million for 82 projects.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on upcoming grant opportunities.
SWEP is accepting applications for FY24 and FY25 funding! The third application deadline is January 14, 2025.
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Innovative water conservation program to install free smart irrigation controllers for residential customers already reducing outdoor irrigation by 17%.
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Environmental Water Resource Projects
The Environmental Water Resource Projects (EWRP) fund projects focused on benefitting ecological values, while increasing the reliability of water resources. Eligible project types include:
Water conservation and efficiency projects with quantifiable and sustained water savings that benefit ecological values
Water management or infrastructure improvements to mitigate drought-related impacts to ecological values
Watershed management or restoration projects benefitting ecological values that have a nexus to water resources or water resources management
The EWRP grant offers municipal water providers or their NGO partners/collaborators the opportunity to apply for funding that supports localized infrastructure projects that include:
Localized water infrastructure projects, including water efficient appliances, outdoor efficiency measure such as turf replacement or smart irrigation controllers, and green stormwater infrastructure, would likely meet one or more of these eligible project categories. Click here to learn more about the types of localized infrastructure and their water management benefits.
Watershed management or restoration projects that restore natural wetlands, construction or improving wetlands for treatment of irrigation water or stormwater flows, or other natural features to reduce water supply and demand imbalances or the risk of drought or flood.
Applicants can request federal funding of up to $3 million for projects that can be completed within three years. Watershed Groups may request up to $5 million for projects to be completed within 5 years. Applicants that have water or power delivery authority must be capable of cost sharing 25% or more of the total project cost. NGO/Watershed Group applicants must be capable of cost sharing 50% or more of the total project cost.
FY24 / 25 EWRP Evaluation Criteria are included below.
Reclamation typically awards 15 – 20 projects annually, contingent on Federal appropriations. For example, in FY22, Reclamation awarded $36.1 million in EWRP funding to 27 communities. Between 20-40 projects will be selected per application submittal period in FY24 and FY25.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on upcoming grant opportunities.
This funding opportunity is not currently accepting applications.
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Drought Resiliency Projects
The Drought Resiliency Projects (DRP) grant is intended for projects that improve the ability of a water manager to continue to deliver water and power during a drought and should decrease vulnerabilities and costs of drought. Eligible projects fall into three different categories: increasing the reliability of water supplies, improving water management, and providing benefits for fish, wildlife and the environment.
While many DRP projects focus on large-scale infrastructure improvements, funding is also available for distributed infrastructure strategies including:
Constructing stormwater capture and reuse systems, including green stormwater infrastructure solutions such as rain gardens, cisterns, and bioswales
Installing residential greywater and rain catchment systems
Assessing water quality with respect to the level of drought to determine appropriate measures to protect water quality for fish and wildlife, agriculture, and human consumption
Developing water budgets and tiered pricing programs that incentivize decreased consumptive use
Drought Resiliency Project (Tasks A-C) applicants can request federal funding of up to $750,000 for projects that could be completed in two years (Funding Group I), up to $3 million for projects that could be completed in three years (Projects in this group may be funded on an annual basis. Funding for the second and third years of the project is contingent upon future appropriations). Funding groups I and II require a 50% non-Federal cost-share match.
Domestic Water Supply Projects for Tribes or Disadvantaged Communities (Task D) applicants can request federal funding of up to $10 million for projects that can be completed in three years. Task D projects require a 5% non-Federal cost-share match.
Example DRP evaluation criteria from the FY25 NOFO are included below.
Reclamation typically awards 25-35 projects annually, contingent on Federal appropriations. For example, in FY23 Reclamation awarded $84 million in DRP funding to 36 communities.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on future grant opportunities.
AWWA manual with step-by-step guide for preparing for and responding to drought related water shortages.
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Planning and Project Design Grants
Planning and Project Design Grants (PPDG) house three funding opportunities to plan and design water projects and Drought Contingency Plans. PPDGs are available to fund early-stage planning activities (Water Strategy Grants), final design of medium to large-scale on-the ground water supply construction (Project Design Grants), and developing and updating comprehensive drought plans (Drought Contingency Planning Grants).
Applicants can request federal funding of up to $400,000 for projects that could be completed in three years with a 0-50% non-Federal cost-share match, depending on project type.
PPDG evaluation criteria for FY23/24 funding opportunity are included below.
The FY23 and FY24 combined funding opportunity has $35 million available and Reclamation plans to award between 60-70 projects.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on future grant opportunities.
Water Conservation Field Services Program
Unlike the other WaterSMART funding programs, the Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) is managed by each of Reclamation’s regional offices and implemented at the local level through Reclamation’s area offices in order to advance water conservation and to meet local goals.
Funding is typically available for projects that prioritize water planning efforts including:
Developing water conservation plans to meet state or local water conservation goals
Identifying water management improvements through System Optimization Reviews (SORs)
Designing water management improvements
Improving application of water conservation technologies through demonstration activities
Water conservation demonstration activities, in particular, is an opportunity for utilities to test out and gather data around innovative, distributed infrastructure tools and technologies such as leak detection devices, smart irrigation controllers, low-flow appliances, etc. If the demonstration program is successful, this demonstration program could then receive additional funding for large-scale implementation through WEEG.
For the Upper Colorado Basin Region (UCB), applicants can request up to $100,000 with a 50% non-Federal cost share match. Be sure to confirm your eligibility through your regional office before applying.
Example WCFSP UCB Evaluation Criteria are included below.
Reclamation typically awards six projects annually, contingent on Federal appropriations.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on future grant opportunities.
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program
The Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program (AERP) funds the study, design, and construction of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, for the purpose of improving the health of fisheries, wildlife, and/or aquatic habitat. This opportunity provides funding under two task areas: Study and Design Projects and Construction Projects. Eligible project activities include:
Study and Design:
Project Outreach
Restoration Project Design Alternatives Analysis
Project Analysis and Design
Design and Engineering to reach 60% level of final project design
Preparation of cost estimates and development of construction plans
Legal and Institutional Requirements Research
Construction Projects:
Completion of Final Project Design
Outreach to Affected Stakeholders
Removal or Modification of Barriers to Fish Passage
Restoration of Connectivity
Restoration of Aquatic Habitat
Improvement of Water Availability, Quality, and Temperature
Other Related Activities
Applicants for Study and Design projects may request up to $2 million, with a minimum award of $500,000. Construction Projects can receive up to $20 million in federal funding under this program, with a minimum award of $3 million. Applicants for both types of projects must obtain 35% of the total project cost as non-federal cost-share funding.
Example Evaluation Criteria are as follows:
This program is in its first year and the total number of projects funded will depend on the amount requested by each applicant. Approximately $95 million is available for this program in FY23 and FY24. Reclamation expects to award between 10-15 projects per application period.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on upcoming grant opportunities.
Cooperative Watershed Management Program
The Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) provides funding to grassroots, local watershed groups to develop collaborative solutions with diverse stakeholders to address water management needs. Funding is provided on a competitive basis to support the development of watershed groups, watershed management project design, and watershed restoration planning.
USBR defines a watershed group as a “self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based group that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include, but is not limited to, private property owners, non-profit organizations, Federal, state, or local agencies, and tribes.”
The CWMP is segmented into two phases. Phase 1 focuses on watershed group development and restoration planning. Applicants may use Phase 1 funding to perform stakeholder outreach, develop a mission statement and bylaws, develop a watershed restoration plan, develop watershed management project concepts, and complete watershed management project design work. USBR awards up to $300k ($100k per year for a period of up to three years) for Phase 1 grants, with no non-Federal cost share required.
To implement watershed management projects (Phase 2), watershed groups can apply for the Environmental Water Resources Projects funding opportunity.
Example evaluation criteria from FY23 are included below.
Reclamation typically awards 20-30 projects annually, contingent on Federal appropriations. For example, in FY22 Reclamation awarded $3.8 million in CWMP Phase 1 funding to 21 communities. USBR announced that they expect 25-30 awards per application submittal period in FY23 and FY24 with an increased total funding amount of $40 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notifications and to stay up to date on upcoming grant opportunities.
This funding opportunity is not currently accepting applications.
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Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program
The Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program Environmental, Ecosystem, and Habitat Restoration Grant, funded from the remaining $450 million of the Inflation Reduction Act, is dedicated to addressing water issues in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Through a multi-phased roll-out, the second phase of this program known as “Bucket 2” is organized into two components:
Bucket 2 Environmental Drought Mitigation or “B2E” provides funding to public entities and tribes for projects that provide general environmental benefits or ecosystem / habitat benefits that address issues directly caused by drought.
- Applications for B2E closed on November 22, 2024.
- The minimum project size that will be considered for funding is $300,000. There is no maximum award ceiling.
- Applicants can download the RFA and prepare and submit an application package with the information outlined in Section D of the RFA, and submit via email to [email protected]
Bucket 2 Water Conservation or “B2W” aims to identify and fund projects that achieve variable, multi-year reductions in use of or demand for water supplies. The B2W component is still in development and a funding opportunity is expected to be announced later this year.
The B2E application is open and due November 22, 2024!
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WaterSMART Grant Application Support & Help Desk
Now more than ever our cities and water utilities need all of the financial support they can get to meet our region’s water challenges. Through our WaterSMART Grant Application Support & Help Desk program, WaterNow can support Colorado water providers with no-cost, hands-on assistance to understand and apply for WaterSMART grants. We strive to increase knowledge and capacity for applying to WaterSMART grants to foster long-term, locally-driven funding pathways for communities, which is why WaterNow will work alongside your organization to help you navigate the application process.
Our support services include, but are not limited to:
- 1-on-1 calls to discuss available grant opportunities and strategize next steps
- Targeted research tasks related to your application
- Application templates that follow the Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Editing and detailed review of your application (Please note that WaterNow is not able to write/draft WaterSMART applications at this time)
- And more! We’ll work with you to determine what kind of support would be most useful to your utility or organization.
If you’re interested in applying to a WaterSMART funding opportunity and would like WaterNow’s assistance, fill out this short form and we’ll be in touch.
Application Tips
- Before applying, review the objectives of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), eligible project types and evaluation criteria closely to determine if your proposed project is a good fit for the specific grant opportunity. Reach out directly to the listed USBR Program Coordinator to confirm your project’s eligibility.
- Copy and paste the evaluation criteria from the NOFO into your application to ensure you’re responding fully and clearly to all criteria. Need an application template? Reach out to us to learn more!
- Review the application checklist (Page iii of every NOFO) to ensure that you are submitting a complete application with all required supporting materials.
- Check out this resource for more Grant Writing Tips!
WaterNow has supported dozens of Colorado communities in navigating and applying for the USBR WaterSMART grant which has yielded a number of successful applications. These projects will further municipal water conservation and efficiency efforts, saving thousands of acre-feet of water across the state.
The City of Alamosa received $500,000 in WEEG funding in FY23 to upgrade the irrigation system for the Cattails Golf Course. These upgrades included installation of a sprinkler system with adjustable nozzles, individual head controls, and weather- related sensors. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 14 acre-feet per year, which will remain in the Rio Grande system and further improve river health and recreation.
The City of Aspen received $75,000 in SWEP funding in FY21 to add an irrigation efficiency rebate to its existing water efficiency programming. The city will offer rebates to customers who have completed an irrigation assessment, for integration of smart controllers, conversion to drip irrigation and high efficiency sprinkler heads, and replacement of turf with low water use plants. This rebate program will increase water use efficiency within the City’s service area and improve overall water supply reliability in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Colorado Springs Utilities received $100,000 in SWEP funding in FY22 to identify affordable housing properties with above average water use and install 570 ultra-high efficiency toilets to replace the existing older, inefficient ones. The project will benefit low-income customers by reducing their annual water costs and improving per capita multi-family water use.
The City of Fountain received $400,000 in WEEG funding in FY23 to upgrade over 1,000 existing meters to advanced metering infrastructure smart meters and will install seven data collectors to gather and send real-time water meter consumption data. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 36 acre-feet, which will remain in the Pueblo Reservoir and help improve water reliability in the Arkansas River Basin.
The City of Greeley, CO received $2,000,000 in WEEG funding in FY22 for their Advanced Metering Infrastructure installation project where they converted over 11,000 outdated residential and commercial meters to AMI meters, which are integrated into the City’s SCADA system. The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 1,146 AF by improving metering accuracy and providing customers with near real-time monitoring and alert capabilities that detect high usage and leaks.
The Colorado Rio Grande Restoration Foundation, in partnership with the San Luis Valley Irrigation District, received $1,274,625 in EWRP funding in FY23 to upgrade the diversion infrastructure for the Farmers Union Canal and Rio Grande #1 Ditch in southwestern Colorado to meet agricultural, ecological, and community needs. The project will allow fish to access an additional 1.42 river miles of habitat, restoration of 646 linear feet of stream bank, 524 linear feet of streambed and aquatic habitat, and provide a safe boat passage and more efficiently deliver water to the Farmers Union Canal and Rio Grande #1 Ditch.
This program is made possible by our partners at the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Insights and tips on WaterSMART grant applications from successful Colorado communities.
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