DNREC and Delaware’s Division of Public Health are accepting proposals from state agencies, county and municipal governments and conservation districts for matching grants to address water issues.
Eligible projects include planning, preliminary engineering and feasibility analysis of wastewater and drinking water projects, stormwater retrofits, green technology, stream and wetland restoration, master surface water and drainage plans, and other source water pollution control efforts among other plans and projects.
The grant applications of up to $50,000 will be considered, and up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for administrative costs. Wastewater and surface water planning grants have an annual cumulative award cap of $100,000 per successful applicant. Drinking water planning grants have no cap, provided funds are available.
DNREC’s Jim Sullivan explains the goals for drinking water and wastewater projects.
"Make sure that the infrastructure is in the best shape it can be," said Sullivan. "With the drinking water, a lot of the emphasis is on removing any type of nitrates or pollutants in there. With the wastewater, I know that they focus on the infrastructure, but they're also looking at trying to get a better water quality."
Sullivan adds what the governments and agencies are looking for with surface water grants.
"With the surface water matching planning grant you can go ahead and look to see how you can better water quality, improve water quality while you're also eliminating the problem that you have maybe with some water that is backing up and flooding a section of your municipality," said Sullivan.
Grant proposals need to be submitted by September 22.
