FITS: Funding Integration Tool for Source Water
Build a plan that FITS!
On this page:
- What is FITS: Funding Integration Tool for Source Water?
- Access FITS
- Who should use FITS?
- Overview of FITS
- Other resources for funding source water protection programs
What is FITS: Funding Integration Tool for Source Water?
FITS is a one-stop-shop tool that explains how users can integrate various federal funding sources to support activities that protect sources of drinking water.
The following five-minute video and two-page fact sheet provide brief descriptions of FITS and how to use it:
- FITS Video (April 2022, 5 minutes, 35 seconds)
- FITS Fact Sheet - Full Color (pdf)
- FITS Fact Sheet - Minimal Color Printer Friendly Version (pdf)
Access FITS
- To launch FITS, click here.
- Read a 508-compliant version of FITS text content:
Who should use FITS?
States, Tribes, and Territories; Federal agencies; watershed stakeholders; drinking water utilities; and users who are engaged with activities that protect sources of drinking water. Users may navigate between source water protection funding sources, planning and funding coordination information, and examples of funding sources in action, to inspire their own source water protection activities.
Overview of FITS
Source Water Protection Funding Sources provides relevant information on major federal funding sources that can support activities that protect sources of drinking water. This section includes 14 funding sources/programs, eight from the EPA (e.g., Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program), and the remainder from other federal agencies (the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service and US Forest Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency).
Planning and Funding Coordination covers the steps or components of a source water program. For each step, the tool lays out general information, the potential funding sources that may support it, and recommendations for long term planning and program collaboration. This section identifies planning considerations for future steps of a source water protection program along with tips for users to maximize eligibility for federal funding.
Examples provides illustrations of funding sources in action. Examples are geographically diverse and include cross-program collaboration and leveraging multiple funding sources for source water protection goals.
Other funding resources
- Source Water Protection Funding: This page identifies useful resources for finding financial assistance tools to help communities build a patchwork of funding strategies to meet their environmental and public health protection goals.
- Federal Funding for Water and Wastewater Utilities in National Disasters (Fed FUNDS): Fed FUNDS presents information tailored to water and wastewater utilities on federal disaster and mitigation funding programs from EPA, FEMA, HUD and SBA. Search by type of utility (e.g. public, private non-profit) and see numerous success stories in your state.
- Water Finance Clearinghouse: The Water Finance Clearinghouse is an easily navigable web‐based portal to help communities locate information and resources that will assist them in making informed decisions for their drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure needs.
- Resilient Strategies Guide for Water Utilities: The Resilient Strategies Guide introduces drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities to the adaptation planning process. Utilities can use the Guide to identify their planning priorities, vulnerable assets, potential adaptation strategies and available funding sources. Information in the Guide is based on the experiences of other utilities adapting to climate change and the resources available to support them in pursuing similar strategies.
Contact us about Source Water Protection