Source Water Project Fund (SWPF)
Turning Source Water Protection Plans into Action
The Source Water Project Fund (SWPF) is a funding opportunity from the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) designed to help communities and utilities move source water protection from planning into implementation.
SWPF supports shovel-ready, fully scoped projects that directly protect drinking water sources by addressing identified risks to water quality and quantity.
What SWPF Funds
Projects must directly implement source water protection measures that safeguard drinking water.
Eligible project examples include:
- Land acquisition or conservation within protection areas
- Riparian buffers and physical barriers
- Wellhead or intake protection improvements
- Signage, fencing, and access controls
- Drainage or grading to redirect runoff
- Targeted risk-reduction infrastructure
- Site stabilization and erosion control
- Other location-specific protection measures identified in approved source water protection plans
Funding Details
- Typical funding cap: Up to $100,000 per project
- Larger awards may be considered with justification and additional review
- Funds are intended for implementation, not planning
Project Requirements
Projects must be:
- Clearly defined
- Implementation-ready
- Technically scoped
- Locally supported
- Directly tied to identified risks or action items in a source water protection plan
How the Process Works
- Projects are identified with NRWA Source Water Protection Specialists (SWPS)
- Application packages are developed with local partners
- Applications are submitted to NRWA
- Projects are reviewed on a rolling basis
- Funding decisions are based on:
- Protection impact
- Risk reduction
- Community benefit
- Financial need
- Project readiness
- Technical feasibility
Submission & Contact
Submit completed applications to:
Chloe Brantley
Kentucky Rural Water Association
📧 c.brantley@krwa.org
Questions or assistance:
📞 859-433-9803
SWPF supports practical, outcome-driven projects that protect drinking water at the source. From planning → to protection → to implementation.