Program Description
The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program that funds projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. For an overview of the program, view the WQIP Factsheet (PDF).
For more information, review the WQIP Q&A (PDF).
Applicant Information
For full Round 21 program details, view the WQIP Round 21 Program Overview (PDF).
How to Apply
Applications are accepted annually through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The grant application period is currently closed but is expected to open for the Round 22 application period in May 2026.
Eligible Project Types & Required Match (2025)*
- Wastewater Treatment Improvement (25%)
- Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control (25%)
- Vacuum Trucks in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Areas (25%)
- Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection (25%)
- Salt Storage and Road Salt Reduction (25%)
- Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal (25%)
- Aquatic Connectivity (25%)
- Marine District Habitat Restoration (25%)
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement (25%)
*Match is the percentage of the award amount grant recipients are required to provide as a local share. For more information about each category, including priorities, application requirements, and scoring criteria, view the WQIP Round 21 Program Overview (PDF).
Eligible Applicants (2025)
- Municipalities* (including Indian Nations) are eligible for all project types
- Soil and Water Conservation Districts are eligible for all project types except Wastewater Treatment Improvement and Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal
- Not-for-Profit Corporations are eligible for Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection, Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal, Aquatic Connectivity, Marine District Habitat Restoration, and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement only.
*For the purpose of this grant opportunity, "municipality" means a local public authority or public benefit corporation, a county, city, town, village, school district, supervisory district, district corporation, improvement district within a county, city, town or village, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof (Environmental Conservation Law §56-0101).
Statewide Financial System (SFS)
All applicants must register in the NYS Statewide Financial System (SFS) to be considered eligible to accept this grant opportunity. For more information, including user guides and tutorial videos on how to register and prequalify, visit the Grants Management website.
Questions
If you have questions regarding WQIP after reading this webpage and the 2025 WQIP Program Overview (PDF), email [email protected] with “WQIP Grant Question” in the subject line.
