Source Water Protection Assistance & Funding Opportunities

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water (VDH-ODW) offers three ways to support source water protection initiatives. These are described below (click each title box to expand its content). For questions about VHD-ODW’s source water protection assistance and funding opportunities, contact the Source Water Programs Team.

1 Source Water Protection Plan Development & Implementation Assistance
In 2017, VDH-ODW awarded two contracts to help small community waterworks in developing and implementing Source Water Protection Plans. Contact information of project managers and a map illustrating the assigned service territory of the selected contractors is provided below:

Click the map to enlarge the image
  • CHA – Sandra Warner
    (D) 540-552-5548
    swarner@chacompanies.com
  • CHA – Ashley Ruble 
    540-259-8813
    Aruble@chacompanies.com
  • Tetra TechCori Edwards(D) 618-313-4277Cori.edwards@tetratech.com

VDH-ODW may fund source water protection plans and the implementation of certain protection measures for waterworks who meet the following criteria:

  • Classified as a Community waterworks,
  • Serve less than 50,000 people, and
  • Process water directly from a drinking water supply source
2 VDH-ODW Source Water Protection Direct Technical Assistance
In 2013, VDH-ODW migrated into a new geographic information system (GIS) platform to manage the Source Water Assessment Program database. The new GIS platform allows VDH-ODW to collaborate more effectively with waterworks and their consultants.The direct assistance is for waterworks not already working with one of our source water protection contractors described above. VDH-ODW’s objectives are to promote electronic information exchange from the Source Water Assessment Program GIS database, provide guidance for source water protection development, and facilitate integration of protection initiatives among potential partners.
3 Source Water Implementation Grant Program
Since 2005, VDH-ODW has been collaborating with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to offer this grant opportunity for local wellhead protection implementation projects. In February 2014, VDH-ODW became the lead agency responsible for funding and managing the grants. Both agencies continue to collaborate in offering this grants program.This grant opportunity is available for localities or service authorities who meet the following criteria:

Applications are due on May 1, 2025 at 4pm.

Links to Wellhead Protection Grant program 2024
Funding Opportunities for Source Water Protection (SWP) in Virginia Webinar

 

A synopsis of grant awards made since program inception is provided below. The grant amounts may not reflect actual expenditures because some projects have been completed under budget.

2024
4 applicants received
2 applicants awarded
Awardees: The town of Onancock, The town of Middleburg
Total awarded: $61,250
Applicant projects: 
The town of Onancock will Install reinforced fences and bollards around all fencing. The town will install silt fences and hay bales around the current fencing. The town of Middleburg’s project is to visually inspect the most at-risk sewer mains in the Town to identify possible breaks, blockages, and other failures that could lead to raw sewage being spilled into the ground. The Town will conduct video inspections of the aging pipes in town to identify possible failure points and areas where proactive repairs need to occur.

2023
2 applicants received
2 applicants awarded
Awardees: The town of Purcellville, The town of Middleburg
Total awarded: $67,042
Applicant projects: 
Install Water Source Security Camera Monitoring at 4 Locations. Visually inspect all 5 wells including the well casing and seal. Locate any potential water-bearing facture zones down to the camera depth, as well as the water clarity.

2022
4 applicants received
2 applicants awarded
Awardees: The town of Purcellville, The town of Middleburg
Total awarded: $100,000
Applicant projects: 
Fence five wells, Priority 1 – Build Town-owned and maintained sewer force main along Stonewall Avenue.  Priority 2 – Procure and install grinder pumps and individual service laterals to each home currently on septic systems. Priority 3 – Abandon existing septic systems and drain fields. Priority 4 – Pay Town of Middleburg availability fees for sewer connections.
2021
3 applicants received.
2 applicants awarded
Awardees: The town of Purcellville, The town of Middleburg
Total awarded: $135, 836
Applicant projects: Fencing wells, analyzing well level data, pumping output data, topography, stream drainage elevations, and hydrogeological studies from the inside and outside the town to determine various capture zones and impacts on the town’s source water. In addition, the project would identify potential threats to the source water quantity and quality.

2017: 5 applications received, 3 awards made ($90k) 2016: 3 applications received, 3 awards made ($119k) 2018: 3 applicants received, 2 awards made ($126k) 2019: 4 applicants received, 4 awards made ($36k) 2020: 4 applicants received, 4 awards made ($388k)

2015 Awards
The Town of Middleburg, Town of Lovettsville, James City Service Authority, and Augusta County Service Authority were awarded grants under the 2015 RFA. A total of $119,950 was granted among the four projects. The performance cycle for these awards ends on June 30, 2016.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: well abandonment, wellhead fencing, and protection area delineation.

2014 Awards
The VDH-ODW and DEQ continued their collaboration for issuance of the RFA and selection of awardees. As of 2014, funding and management of the program is fully housed at the Virginia Department of Health’s.

The Town of Middleburg, James City Service Authority, and Augusta County Service Authority were awarded grants under the 2014 RFA. A total of $97,750 was granted among the three projects. The performance cycle for these awards ends on September 30, 2015.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: well abandonment, wellhead fencing, and protection area delineation.

2012 Awards
The Town of Middleburg, Town of Stanley, James City Service Authority, Augusta County Service Authority, and Fauquier County were awarded grants under the 2012 RFA. A total of $130,390 was granted among the five projects. Contracts were issued in mid 2012 and were completed by late September 2013 (a 15-month performance period was introduced to the program).

The projects funded in this round of applications included: well abandonment, educational outreach, wellhead fencing, advancing ordinances, emergency response planning, hazardous waste collection, and protection area delineation.

2010 Awards
The Town of Dayton, the Town of Stanley, James City Service Authority, Augusta County Service Authority, and Fauquier County were awarded grants under the 2010 RFA. A total of $167,275 was granted among the five projects. Contracts were issued in early 2011 and were completed by late September 2011.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: well abandonment, educational outreach, wellhead fencing, and protection area delineation.

2009 Awards
The James City Service Authority, Augusta County Service Authority, Town of New Market, and Rockingham County were awarded grants under the 2009 RFA. A total of $131,950 was granted among the four projects. Contracts were issued on October 2009 and were completed by September 2010.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: well abandonment, educational outreach, wellhead fencing, and protection area delineation.

2008 Awards
The Augusta County Service Authority, Town of Burkeville, and Town of Lovettsville were awarded grants under the 2008 RFA. A total of $145,254 was granted among the three projects. Contracts were issued on October 2008 and were completed by September 2009.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: sign placement, educational outreach, advancing zoning ordinances, emergency response (spill containment equipment for emergency responders), and protection area delineation.

2007 Awards
The Augusta County Service Authority, Town of Lovettsville, and Rye Valley Water Authority were awarded grants under the 2007 RFA. A total of $182,858 was granted among the three projects. Contracts were issued on October 2007 and were completed by September 2008.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: sign placement, educational outreach, wellhead fencing, vault installation, well abandonment, and protection area delineation.

2006 Awards
The James City Service Authority, Town of Lovettsville, Town of Stanley, and County of Wythe were awarded grants under the 2006 RFA. A total of $147,390 was granted among the four projects. Contracts were issued on October 2006 and were completed by September 2007.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: educational outreach, planning maps update, well abandonment, and protection area delineation.

2005 Awards
The James City Service Authority and Accomack Northampton Planning District Commission were awarded grants under the 2005 RFA. A total of $31,250 was granted among the two projects. Contracts were issued on October 2005 and were completed by September 2006.

The projects funded in this round of applications included: household hazardous waste disposal, educational outreach for children, and well abandonment.
Last Updated: October 28, 2024