By STAFF REPORTS
The Northwest Florida Water Management District is making available $250,000 for small-scale grants to implement water conservation projects that result in quantifiable water savings.
Water conservation provides environmental and economic benefits by lowering utility bills, enhancing the sustainability of water supplies, lowering the strain on water infrastructure and wastewater systems and reducing fertilizer runoff. Projects must demonstrate water conservation via groundwater or surface water to be eligible for funding.
The District states it will give priority to projects that show quantifiable water savings. Public outreach, Florida Friendly landscape exhibits and conservation education programs will also be considered.
Examples of eligible conservation measures include, but are not limited to, residential and commercial fixture rebate programs, irrigation system component upgrades, water audits and contracted leak detection.
Geographic priority areas for funding requests include:
- Water resource caution areas – coastal Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties and the Upper Telogia Creek basin in Gadsden County
- Areas of resource concern – southern Bay and north-central Gadsden counties
- Areas within a regional water supply plan – Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties
- REDI communities
Local governments and public or non-profit water supply utilities are encouraged to apply. Available funding for each project is up to $50,000 cost-share, with a required 50-percent local match requirement. The match requirement can be waived for financially disadvantaged communities.
Applications will be accepted until 2 p.m. on Sept. 17. Application materials and other information can be found at https://nwfwater.com/water-resources/funding-programs/.
