Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Water Quality Improvement Grant Program
Investing In Clean Water

The deadline for submitting Water Quality Improvement Grant (WQIG) applications has passed. The WQIG program staff is in the process of reviewing applications for the current grant cycle. Grant awards will be announced in June of 2008.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Improvement Grant (WQIG) Program allocates money from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to interested parties for implementation of nonpoint source management and watershed protection. The distribution of grant funds from EPA is provided pursuant to Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act and administered by the ADEQ Water Quality Division. ADEQ uses these federal funds to implement on-the-ground water quality improvement projects to control nonpoint source pollution.

Nonpoint source pollution is polluted runoff from many different sources and remains the nation's largest source of water quality problems. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall, snowmelt or irrigation runs over land or through the ground, picks up pollutants and deposits them into rivers, lakes and coastal waters or introduces them into ground water. Agriculture, forestry, grazing, septic systems, recreational boating, urban runoff, construction, physical changes to stream channels and habitat degradation are potential sources of nonpoint source pollution. Projects must focus on improving or protecting water quality within the state of Arizona.

In Come The Outcomes! The WQIG Program has shifted the focus of its role from that of "Funder" to an "Investor." While the program will continue to serve the same fundamental purpose, emphasis is placed on project outcomes being seen as returns on the Program's Investments. The WQIG Program has revised the Water Quality Improvement Grant Manual to assist interested parties in apply for grant funds. The new manual reflects the Program's shift to "outcome based thinking". The WQIG Program will conduct statewide workshops to introduce the new manual later this year. Workshop times and locations will be announced in early in the fall.

Water Quality Improvement Grant Brochure

How to Apply for Grant Funding
The NEW Water Quality Improvement Grant Manual provides necessary information and forms to apply. The manual outlines eligible investments, provides general guidelines, examples of projects and potential project ideas. To receive a copy of the grant manual, please contact Krista Osterberg at (602) 771-4635 or, preferably, download a copy. If you have questions contact Rebecca Followill, Unit Supervisor at (602) 771-4469 or, toll free, at (800) 234-5677.

Additional Downloads

• Pre-Proposal and Project Summary
• A Workbook for Investing In Clean Water
• Writing Effective Monitoring Plans
• Previously Awarded Grants
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, June 2007
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, February 2006
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, January 2005
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, January 2004
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, January 2003
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, January 2002
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, July 2001
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, January 2001
  • Water Quality Improvement Grant Award Recipients, July 2000

View ADEQ's Interactive GIS eMaps, where you can see all the grants awarded under our program.

Mailing List
If you would like to receive information about the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program as it becomes available, please join our e-mail list by completing the following form. Or, if you would rather have information mailed to you, please contact Krista Osterberg, Grant and Outreach Coordinator, at (602) 771-4635 or, toll free, at (800) 234-5677. Periodically, we will send information about other grant opportunities as they are brought to our attention.

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