Water Conservation Grant Program

The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District is currently accepting applications under its Water Conservation Grant Program for Water Conservation Research (RFA 2023-03). The program is designed to support the District’s mission to prevent land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal by funding projects that enhance water conservation. Since its inception in 1975, the District has worked to regulate groundwater use in Harris and Galveston Counties. These efforts have led to improved aquifer levels and reduced subsidence in some areas, but challenges persist, particularly in western regions still reliant on groundwater. Through this grant, the District aims to accelerate the adoption of conservation strategies to mitigate subsidence-related risks such as flooding and infrastructure damage. The program seeks applications for research initiatives that contribute to water conservation in meaningful ways. Funded projects may include evaluations of water-saving technologies, data analyses of aquifers, and development of conservation models such as GIS-based tools to identify water-saving measures. Past successful projects include assessing the cost-benefit of conservation actions for drought contingency plans and creating models for residential and commercial water savings. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative, data-driven, and scalable projects that align with the District’s goal of quantifiable water conservation outcomes. Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations whose properties lie within the District boundaries. These include retail public utilities, private sector entities, 501(c) environmental nonprofits located in Harris or Galveston Counties, public entities like school or improvement districts, and Texas-based research universities. All applicants must be in good standing with the District and demonstrate capacity to implement the proposed project effectively. Funding is available to cover up to 50% of approved project costs. The number and size of awards will depend on the annual budget as approved by the District’s Board of Directors. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis, and must be submitted electronically to contracts@subsidence.org with the subject line “Water Conservation Grant Program RFA 2023-02.” Applications should not exceed 10 pages including attachments, must use a minimum 11-point font and 1-inch margins, and be formatted for 8.5 x 11-inch pages. Additional materials may be requested post-submission. Proposals are ranked based on five weighted criteria: emphasis on water conservation (50 points), thoroughness of the scope, schedule, and budget (20 points), completeness and organization of the submission (20 points), use of EPA WaterSense products (5 points), and creativity of the project approach (5 points). Applicants should provide detailed justifications for water savings and project calculations and clearly define implementation schedules and contractor involvement if applicable. For questions, applicants may contact the District office at 281-486-1105. There is no stated closing date, as the opportunity remains open continuously, and frequent updates and FAQs are available on the District’s grant program website. The open structure allows for flexibility, enabling applicants to align proposal development with internal timelines while focusing on measurable water conservation impact within the District’s jurisdiction.