DOVER — State government agencies, county and municipal governments and conservation districts can now submit proposals to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Division of Public Health to receive matching grants for wastewater, surface water and drinking water project planning.

Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. March 10.

Eligible proposals include planning, preliminary engineering and feasibility analysis of wastewater and/or drinking water projects; stormwater retrofits; green technology practices; stream- and wetland-restoration projects; small watershed studies; master surface water and drainage plans; and other source water pollution-control plans.

Grant applications of up to $50,000 will be considered with a one-to-one cash match requirement. Up to 10% of the grant funds may be used for administrative costs. There is an annual cumulative grant award cap of $100,000 per successful applicant per fiscal year for wastewater and surface water planning grants. Drinking water planning grants can be for any amount, provided funds are available.

The Wastewater, Drinking Water and Surface Water Matching Planning Grant Programs are set-asides in the state’s Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Fund. Projects will be recommended for funding by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council through a competitive grant process.

• Wastewater planning grants assist with wastewater infrastructure project planning and design necessary to submit a loan application for funding consideration.  Project guidelines and an application are available online.

• Surface water planning grants support projects and activities that focus on reducing surface water runoff and improving water quality in impaired watersheds. Project guidelines and an application are available online.

• Drinking water planning grants help municipal water systems prepare for large, often costly projects such as troubleshooting source water quality and proposing solutions, reconfiguring water plants to optimize treatment and determining water main size and locations, among other activities. Project guidelines and an application are available online.