Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program

Grants to Massachusetts municipalities and water supply and fire districts for projects to protect existing or future water sources. Funding may be used for acquisitions, land surveys, management plans and reports, recording fees, and title research and certification costs. Proposals are sought for Financial assistance for the purchase of land in existing Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)-approved drinking water supply protection areas, or land in estimated protection areas of identified and planned future water supply wells or reservoirs.

This grant provides funds to assist in protecting and conserving the quality and quantity of public drinking water supply sources in the Commonwealth. EEA seeks to further the conservation of lands contributing to the protection of drinking water supplies within the Commonwealth. Applications may be to purchase land in fee simple or a CR or WPR. All applicants must specify whether their proposed acquisition will protect an existing well or reservoir or a planned new well or reservoir. The Property must be primarily located in an appropriate area to achieve stated objectives. This requirement is met in different ways depending upon whether the project is to protect an existing well or reservoir or a planned future well or reservoir. 

1. Projects to protect existing wells or reservoirs: Fifty percent (50%) or more of the parcel(s) to be acquired must be located in a DEP-approved Zone I, II, or III (groundwater) or Interim Wellhead Protection Area (IWPA), or Zone A, B or C (surface water). Properties to protect groundwater that contain more than 50% Zone II will be viewed most favorably. Applicants may use the Water Supply Protection Areas available from MassGIS or use the online map at: http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/images/dep/omv/wspviewer.htm
2. Projects to protect future wells or reservoirs: property must be primarily located within an area identified as of value for anticipated future water supply use through an appropriate process, or that has been tested and included in an application to DEP for a site exam under the new source review approval process. Appropriate planning processes include locally-developed and accepted plans such as: drinking water resource management plan, integrated water resource management plan, wastewater resource management plan, regional watershed plan, water assets report, or direct testing. Priority will be given to projects that have already submitted an application to DEP for new source review. The process for the Approval to Site a Source and Conduct a Pumping Test can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/ws-17-approval-to-site-a-source-and-conduct-a-pumping-test-for-a-source-greater-than-70

For additional information regarding program requirements, see: https://www.mass.gov/doc/fy21-dwsp-bid-doc/download#page=4

Eligible Projects:

1. Purchase of land in fee
2. Purchase of a Conservation Restriction (CR)
3. Purchase of a Watershed Preservation Restriction (WPR)

Eligible project costs include:

• Property acquisition
• Title research and certification
• Baseline documentation report and land management plan (up to $1,500)
• Recording fees
• Survey or plan of land

For additional information about permitted uses, see: https://www.mass.gov/doc/fy21-dwsp-bid-doc/download#page=4

This program encourages the completion of projects to serve Environmental Justice populations, to help address the disproportionate share of environmental burdens borne by lower-income and racial minority communities.