Planning Grants for Small Systems

Recognizing the unique challenges small community water systems face in complying with current drinking water quality standards and emerging contaminants, maintaining qualified managerial and technical staff, and cultivating financial capacity, the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund offers grant awards for small community water systems to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of connecting to another community water system. The insight gained from feasibility studies will inform small water systems of the best long-term options for maintaining a safe reliable drinking water supply for their customers. Receipt of the grant does not require the system to commit to an interconnection.

The DWGTF offers a maximum $10,000 grant award per eligible water system. There is no required match.

Eligible applicants

• Community water systems serving up to 1,000 people.
• Nonprofit, non-transient, non-community water systems.

Eligible applicants must have a source exceeding the New Hampshire drinking water maximum contaminant level (MCL) or Ambient Groundwater Quality Standard (AGQS).

Eligible project costs

• Cost-effective analysis: An engineering opinion of conceptual costs comparing connecting to another community water system versus treating, maintaining and operating a system’s established well sources. The evaluation shall include both capital and 20-year present worth operation and maintenance costs. Connection costs must include required infrastructure and connection fees.
• Small water system asset management business plan: As a condition of funding, the engineering consultant must prepare or update and submit a Small Water System Asset Management Business Pan using the NHDES template or equivalent. Preparation of the business plan will be an eligible expense under the grant up to the $10,000 total limit.