Apply today! 2027 Drinking Water Assistance Grants Program

The state of Colorado is unique in many ways. One particular way the Colorado Public Health and Environment’s water quality control division (WQCD) distinguishes itself from other states is through its Capacity Development Program. The EPA requires states to aid water providers in implementing continuous improvement measures. These efforts ensure that as federal and state requirements evolve and new regulations are adopted in response to emerging discoveries about our water sources, water systems will readily adapt to the changes to proactively protect public health. Through this program, the Local Assistance Unit (LAU) provides one-on-one coaching sessions and various training opportunities to develop Operator knowledge, available as a free resource for water systems throughout Colorado.

In an effort to provide financial assistance to public drinking water systems, LAU is excited to announce the return of the 2027 Assistance Grants Program! 

LAU is seeking water systems that could use up to $30,000 to make significant progress to address a regulatory or water quality challenge. All public water systems are eligible for these funds.

Awarded projects must be completed within the 2027 calendar year. 

• The application period will close on October 13, 2026.
• Total funding is $150,000. 
• Successful grantees will receive a maximum of $30,000.
• All public water systems are eligible; a Public Water System Identification (PWSID) number is required.
• If you do not know your PWSID, please visit the Monitoring Schedule linked here for more information on your water system. 

This grant provides financial assistance for systems that need help reaching or exceeding compliance requirements or systems addressing a water quality challenge. The Program primarily funds infrastructure projects or requires systems to address operational and administrative improvements, such as emergency response plans, main break response procedures, cybersecurity, and storage tank inspection plans.

If there is a water system that could benefit from this grant, please submit a 2027 Assistance Grants Application linked here and spread the message!

If you have questions about the application, please complete the live Assistance Grants 2027 Questions form linked here by October 6, 2026.

For more information on the program, visit the Assistance Grants FAQ linked here. 

If you need coaching assistance or classroom training opportunities for your water system, please refer to the Local Assistance Unit’s Training opportunities, recognition, and resources for water systems webpage. 

For more information on other available water grants, please visit the Water Quality Grants webpage or email cdphe.wqcd.watergrants@state.co.us.

➽ Priscila Lopez - Drinking water coach and Excellence Program Manager

Colorado's Water & Wastewater Operators

Reliable drinking water (DW) and effective wastewater (WW) treatment are among the most essential public services a community depends on. Behind every glass of safe drinking water and clean body of water is a team of qualified, dependable, and certified operators whose knowledge and commitment to protect public health and preserve the environment ensure regulatory compliance. Choosing the best operator for your system can have a huge, lasting impact on the wellbeing of local communities.

To alleviate the strain of looking for an Operator in responsible charge (ORC) the Water Quality Control Division maintains a list of certified operators. This list details information about the operators’ level of certification and service area. If you are a system looking for a qualified operator, please visit the WQCD’s contract operator list to assist you in your search. 

Please note that this list is a voluntary listing of organizations and individuals available for hire. Participation in listing your services doesn't constitute a recommendation or endorsement by the state.

If you are an operator who would like to offer your services to public water systems, you can do so by adding your contact information to our voluntary contract operator list using the Contract Operator Listing Form. 

Operators who are using this listing form, please be mindful of the following when enlisting your services:

• Only select:
• Alphabetic entries (A-D) for DW treatment, WW treatment, and Industrial WW treatment.
• Only add numeric entries (1-4) for DW distribution and WW collection.
• There is a small systems certification available for systems serving less than 3,300 people in both wastewater and drinking water. When listing your S certification you will answer yes under DW and/or WW small systems.
• This certificate is not equivalent to carrying a class 1 or class D certification. So if you only carry an S certification do not add anything to the other categories. 

You can review the Water Operator certification types by visiting our website: Which certificate is right for you. 

Before adding a contract operator to this list we verify that all certifications are active. Expired certifications or operators actively under disciplinary action will not be accepted. If you are using this list to look for a qualified operator, we strongly advise you to always verify the status of an operator's certificate(s) using the CCWP public search page to ensure certifications have not expired or been revoked, as we update this list twice per year.

Having access to experienced and reliable operators is essential to a community's success. A poor DW or WW operator can severely compromise public health, devastate local aquatic ecosystems, and trigger legal and economic crises for a municipality or community. If you need assistance finding an operator in your area you can request help using the link to our coaching request form.

➽ Elicia Vigil - Drinking water coach - Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) program manager