Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) Grant Program (DWSP)

OWEB grants to public water suppliers to protect, restore, or enhance drinking-water sources through land acquisition and conservation, prioritizing suppliers serving rural communities and lower-income populations. Eligible properties must be partially or fully within the supplier's Drinking Water Source Area (surface or groundwater). Acquisition types: fee title, easements/covenants, or loan repayment.

Institutional applicants: public water suppliers with service populations at or below 25,000 (Community, Transient Non-Community, Non-Transient Non-Community, and Oregon Very Small Water Systems, each local-government or nonprofit owned), plus Tribal Public Water Systems. Ineligible: federal-owned, state-owned, and for-profit water systems. Match: 5% cash or in-kind from non-OWEB sources.

Total available $5,000,000 (allocated April 2025). Maximum request $3,000,000 per grant. Match: 5% cash or in-kind from non-OWEB sources. Grants are paid on a cost-reimbursement basis.

Apply online via OWEB's grant management system (login via fiscal.oweb@oweb.oregon.gov). The 2024 cycle closed December 12, 2024 and all current funds are allocated; more may become available for a Fall 2026 cycle.