One of Valley Water’s missions is to provide a reliable supply of safe, clean water to everyone in Santa Clara County. Valley Water has dozens of projects and programs to ensure we continue to provide this important service to all communities.
Valley Water recently introduced a new grant opportunity aimed at improving access to drinking water and helping reduce plastic bottle waste. We are offering $5,000 to purchase, install and maintain water bottle refill stations in Santa Clara County.
Our agency is particularly interested in providing grants to organizations that serve historically underserved communities and school-age children and students. However, the following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Public bodies such as B. special districts, cities, municipalities and counties
- Schools, adult education centers or universities (public or non-profit)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations
- Non-profit organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, but who can demonstrate that they are an affiliate of a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that is acting as a tax sponsor
- Organized community group with an established structure that can identify a person responsible for signing the agreement and meeting insurance requirements
- Private entity, such as B. a private water district/agency; school, adult education center or university (private); or for-profit company
Applicants who are not public bodies must publicly prove access to the water filling station.
Valley Water offered a similar grant opportunity between fiscal years 2014 and 2018 to expand access to safe, clean drinking water in schools. During that time, Valley Water awarded $5,000 in grants to 50 schools throughout Santa Clara County.
For this fiscal year, we have $100,000 in grants and will award $5,000 per refill station. Groups can get the station of their choice – there are floor standing and wall units. Some refill stations have a digital counter that shows how many single-use plastic water bottles have been saved.
Applications will be accepted immediately until the $100,000 is distributed by June 30, 2023.
Funding for the program is made possible by the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, which Santa Clara County voters overwhelmingly approved in November 2020.
If you’d like to learn more, Valley Water is hosting two online workshops on October 25 at 2pm and December 1 at 6pm
Visit valleywater.org/refillstation for more information about the program, applicant eligibility, and the application process.
Together we can make a difference in our community by expanding access to clean water and reducing plastic waste.
Tony Estremera is Valley Water Director for District 6 and is running for re-election.
