Service Line Inventory and Lead Service Line Replacement Planning Grants

The Service Line Inventory and Lead Service Line Replacement Planning Grants program was established in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which were finalized on December 16, 2021. These revisions were implemented to enhance protections against lead in drinking water and to reduce lead exposure risks in communities across the United States. In alignment with these federal requirements, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) offers this grant program to assist regulated public water systems in the state in meeting compliance obligations by the federal deadline of October 16, 2024. This grant program supports public water systems as they develop system-wide service line inventories and, when necessary, prepare lead service line replacement (LSLR) plans. Under the LCRR, public water systems that identify lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown service lines must complete a lead service line replacement plan in addition to the inventory. The grant funds are designated for planning and preparation activities only and do not cover the physical replacement of service lines. Activities eligible for funding include development of service line inventories, lead or galvanized service line confirmation activities, lead service line replacement planning, and optional GIS mapping and analysis services. Eligible applicants include publicly owned and private not-for-profit public water systems in Colorado. Systems serving between 7,500 and 50,000 people must have a median household income (MHI) below 120% of the state MHI to qualify. Systems serving more than 50,000 people must have an MHI below 80% of the state MHI. This eligibility criteria was updated as of September 15, 2023. Additionally, applicants responding to the October 13, 2023, deadline needed to be ready to proceed within 90 calendar days from the funding period’s start, while those applying in subsequent rounds were required to be ready within 30 days. The grant application process followed a rolling basis with four scheduled deadlines: October 13, 2023; December 1, 2023; February 1, 2024; and April 9, 2024. Applications were reviewed in the order received, and funding availability was contingent on remaining resources through the designated review periods. Applicants were required to submit applications electronically before the respective deadlines for consideration in that review cycle. A training session was held on March 7, 2024, to assist applicants in understanding LCRR requirements and application components. All inquiries were required to be submitted via the official RFA Inquiry Form by March 26, 2024. The grant opportunity was listed under RFA 42151, and applicants were expected to submit a completed application including several attachments: a checklist with financial risk assessment and signature (Attachment A), a W-9 form (Attachment B), a project narrative (Attachment C), and a budget and work plan (Attachment D). Awards finalized under this program include funding for entities such as the City of Durango, City of Greeley, City of Lafayette, and the Town of Eagle, among others, with amounts ranging from $36,000 to nearly $250,000. Inquiries related to this grant were directed to cdphe_wqcd_sli_grant@state.co.us. The program concluded in 2024, and no further applications are being accepted. Updated information and future funding notices are posted on the Water Quality Grants page on CDPHE’s website.