Application and Funding Process
How to apply for a DWGTF Source Water Protection Grant.
The Advisory Commission solicits pre-applications each spring with funding applications due in late summer. The 2024 grant round is now open! Pre-applications are due May 30, 2024, with funding applications due August 8, 2024. The process typically goes as follows:
1. Find eligible land.
Review your project for eligibility using the online Source Water Protection mapping tool.
2. Submit pre-application.
Applicants must submit a pre-application by the deadline posted on the website.
Projects that will protect a future drinking water source must complete and submit the future drinking water source pre-application instead of the pre-application.
Get the future water source pre-application form
3. NHDES reviews pre-applications.
NHDES reviews pre-applications for minimum project requirements including: an eligible entity, eligible land and eligible project structure. If applicable, NHDES invites eligible applicants to submit a full funding application.
4. Submit final application.
Invited applicants submit a final application by the deadline posted on the website, typically in late summer.
5. Site visits and funding recommendation.
A subcommittee of the Advisory Commission reviews the applications, evaluates the merits of the projects based on criteria set in the Advisory Commission Source Water Protection (SWP) Rules, attends site visits and makes funding recommendations to the Advisory Commission. Please refer to Table 1 on page 7 of the SWP Rules to read the evaluation criteria considered by the Commission.
DWGTF Source Water Protection Rules
6. Funding decisions.
The subcommittee presents its funding recommendations to the Advisory Commission for approval. The Advisory Commission votes to award funding. NHDES sends funding decision letters to applicants in early December.
7. Funding approval.
The grant recipient must enter into a grant agreement with NHDES. All grants from the Trust Fund must be approved by the Governor and Executive Council (G&C); an award is not secured until after the grant agreement has been approved by G&C. The applicant must obtain signatures on certain documents and submit them to NHDES for processing and review. The project checklist describes all necessary documents to: 1) obtain an approved grant agreement from G&C, and 2) complete their project in accordance with the Source Water Protection requirements.
8. Disbursement.
After G&C approval of the grant agreement and before the grant can be disbursed, the applicant must submit a Final Closing Package to NHDES. The Final Closing Package, also referred to as a Disbursement Request Form, must be submitted to NHDES by the completion date stated in the grant agreement, or the applicant must submit a request for an extension to the grant agreement, which must be approved by G&C. NHDES will review the Disbursement Request Form to ensure it includes all required components. If NHDES determines that the Disbursement Request Form contains all of the necessary information, NHDES will disburse the grant.