Resource – Funding for Best Practices for Source Water Protection Program

The Chiefs of Ontario Environment Sector have shared the following resources regarding funding under the Best Practices for Source Water Protection (BPSWP) Program.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is pleased to announce a call for applications for funding under the Best Practices for Source Water Protection (BPSWP) Program. This program is designed to assist Ontario communities not covered by the province’s source protection planning framework in developing local source water protection action plans, including identifying their sources of drinking water and associated risks. Developing these plans is an important step in managing and protecting drinking water sources, helping to ensure Ontario’s communities can enjoy safe, clean drinking water.

This program aims to help protect drinking water sources and systems in rural, northern and Indigenous communities that are not included in a source protection plan and are not regulated under the Clean Water Act, 2006. Ontario provides guidance on best practices for source water protection, including information on how to identify areas where drinking water sources could be at risk and how to manage risks to drinking water sources.

Funding is available for projects starting before March 31, 2027, with all activities to be completed by February 2028. The maximum amount of funding available for a project is $100,000.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant must represent a municipality, not-for-profit organization or Indigenous community/organization. Projects must be focused geographically on a community in Ontario that is not already protected under a provincially approved source protection plan under the Act.

To submit your project application, please complete the attached application form and send it by email to SourceProtectionFunding@ontario.ca.

Completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 27, 2026.

Please ensure your application follows the attached Funding Application Guide. To assist with preparing your application, a PDF version of the Best Practices for Source Water  is also available online.

If you have questions about the program or would like to discuss project ideas prior to the application deadline, contact: SourceProtectionFunding@ontario.ca.