Strategic Water Supply Grants

The Strategic Water Supply Act, NMSA 72-12C-1 et seq., created the Strategic Water Supply Program to help protect New Mexico's freshwater resources by supporting the study, production, treatment, management, and beneficial use of brackish water. The program is administered through the New Mexico Environment Department and the Office of the State Engineer. Strategic Water Supply Grants are intended to improve New Mexico's long-term water resilience, strengthen critical water infrastructure, and advance state, Tribal, or local economic development goals. The agencies seek projects that move strategic water supply concepts from planning toward implementation, develop or demonstrate approaches to producing or using treated brackish water, make freshwater resources more available and reliable, and provide lasting environmental, community, and economic benefits. Funding can support multiple stages of brackish water projects, from early research and feasibility work through environmental review, design, demonstration, and construction. Eligible project categories are Construction Projects, Design Pilots, Environmental Documentation and Demonstration, Feasibility Assessments, and Research Projects. Construction Projects may develop, expand, or implement full-scale brackish water treatment facilities and related infrastructure. Design Pilots test treatment technologies and project designs before full-scale implementation. Environmental Documentation and Demonstration projects address environmental review, permitting, and demonstration activities. Feasibility Assessments evaluate technical, financial, operational, and regulatory feasibility, while Research Projects develop innovative treatment technologies and improve scientific understanding of brackish water resources. Anticipated awards vary by project category. Construction Projects are expected to receive $2,000,000 to $10,000,000; Design Pilots, $1,000,000 to $3,000,000; Environmental Documentation and Demonstration projects, $750,000 to $2,000,000; Feasibility Assessments, $250,000 to $2,000,000; and Research Projects, $250,000 to $750,000. These amounts are estimates rather than guaranteed awards. NMED and OSE reserve the right to modify funding allocations based on application quality, program priorities, and available funding, with final award amounts determined through the application review process. The provided information does not state an overall program funding amount, number of awards, or a required applicant cost share or matching contribution. Eligible applicants are public entities and federally recognized Indian Nations, Tribes, or Pueblos located wholly or partially within New Mexico. The Act's listed public entities include state institutions of higher education, counties, municipalities, political subdivisions of the State, and state agencies. Successful projects must be approved by the State Engineer as advancing the exploration, production, or treatment of brackish water in New Mexico. Projects must comply with applicable state, federal, Tribal, and local governmental standards, permit requirements, public notice and hearing processes, and other legal requirements associated with protecting existing water rights, conserving water, protecting public welfare and public health, and protecting the environment. Projects must also clearly demonstrate advancement of state, Tribal, or local government economic development goals consistent with enhancing the state's freshwater resources. Applicants should select the project category that best represents the primary purpose of their proposed project. Applications are submitted through the identified Submittable Application Portal, with additional application instructions provided on the How to Apply for SWS Grant Funding webpage and in Section 3 of the SWS Grants 2026 Request for Applications. All applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of experts from state agencies. The provided material does not state detailed scored evaluation criteria, required application attachments, a performance period, an award notification date, or a named individual program contact. The 2026 application period opened August 20, 2026, and applications are due October 20, 2026. An Applicant Information Webinar is scheduled for September 2, 2026, with a Zoom registration link to be provided. No mandatory letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating requirement is identified in the provided material. The program also conducted a 2025 funding round and identified seven selected grantees, demonstrating that the 2026 solicitation follows an earlier Strategic Water Supply funding round; however, the provided material does not explicitly state that the grant will recur annually or on another fixed schedule. General NMED contact information provided is (800) 219-6157 and (505) 827-2855 at the Harold L. Runnels Building, 1190 St. Francis Drive, Suite N4050, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.

Select the project category that best represents the proposal's primary purpose. Show how the project can move from planning toward implementation and can be built, funded, and operated over the long term. Demonstrate advancement of brackish water exploration, production, treatment, or use and identify lasting environmental, community, and economic benefits. Clearly connect the project to freshwater availability or reliability and state, Tribal, or local economic development goals.