WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects

Background
The U.S. Department of the Interior's (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department's priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts.

WaterSMART's Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP) provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. Environmental Water Resources Projects also support the goals of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group established in March 2021 and the National Drought Resiliency Partnership.

Drought conditions across the Western United States (West) impact a wide range of communities and sectors, including agriculture, cities, tribes, the environment, recreation, hydropower producers, and others.

Grant Details
Reclamation will provide funding for small-scale on-the-ground water efficiency projects which seek to implement work identified in an applicant’s water planning efforts. Example projects include, but are not limited to: Canal lining/piping, Municipal metering, Irrigation flow measurement, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and Automation (SCADA), Landscape Irrigation measures, High-Efficiency Indoor Appliances and Fixtures, Upgrades to Commercial Cooling Systems to Improve Water Use Efficiency. Other projects that are similar to those tasks listed above may be submitted for consideration and will be allowed to the extent that they are consistent with program authorization and goals.

Eligibility Requirements
Category A applicants include States; Indian tribes; irrigation districts; water districts; state, regional, or local authorities, whose members include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority.

Category B includes nonprofit conservation organizations that are acting in partnership with an entity described in Category A. All applicants must be located in the Western United States or United States territories including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah Washington Wyoming American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Virgin Islands Puerto Rico.

Period of Performance
Anticipated Award Date: 03/31/2023.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 03/31/2025

Grant Value
Up to $100,000 per applicant.
Total project costs should generally be $225,000 or less.

Place of Performance
Projects must be located in Alaska Arizona California Colorado Hawaii Idaho Kansas Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon South Dakota Texas Utah Washington Wyoming American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Virgin Islands Puerto Rico.