Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Grant

The Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Grant Program is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology as part of its broader Water Quality Combined Funding Program. This initiative was introduced to address nutrient pollution, particularly nitrogen discharges, into the waters of the Salish Sea. The program is designed to support municipalities in improving wastewater treatment systems to reduce nutrient loading, which is a key contributor to water quality degradation and ecological imbalance in the Puget Sound region. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance for planning, evaluating, and implementing upgrades and operational changes at publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities. These improvements are intended to optimize nutrient removal processes and support long-term strategies for managing nitrogen discharges. The program emphasizes both near-term operational adjustments and longer-term infrastructure planning to ensure sustainable reductions in nutrient pollution. Funding through this program is limited to projects that demonstrate a clear connection to nutrient reduction outcomes. Eligible activities include planning efforts, infrastructure improvements, and monitoring initiatives that contribute to reducing nutrient discharges. Projects must align with broader water quality goals and demonstrate how proposed activities will improve treatment performance or support compliance with nutrient-related regulatory requirements. The program prioritizes efforts that enhance system efficiency and contribute to measurable environmental benefits. Eligibility for the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Grant Program is restricted to entities responsible for operating publicly owned domestic wastewater treatment plants that were previously covered under the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit. These entities are specifically identified in the State Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Guidelines. This targeted eligibility ensures that funding is directed toward facilities with a direct impact on nutrient discharges to the Salish Sea and that have regulatory obligations related to nutrient management. The application process for this program follows the annual Water Quality Combined Funding Program cycle managed by the Washington State Department of Ecology. For the most recent cycle, applications opened on July 22, 2025 and closed on September 3, 2025. Applicants were required to submit proposals through the Ecology Administration of Grants and Loans system, including detailed project descriptions, technical documentation, and supporting materials. Projects are evaluated based on established criteria and ranked competitively to determine funding allocations. The funding cycle includes several stages beyond application submission, including evaluation, public review, and development of a funding offer list. Awards are typically finalized following this review process, with agreements executed in the subsequent fiscal year. Funded projects may then proceed through planning, design, and implementation phases, with performance periods generally extending multiple years depending on project scope. This program is expected to recur annually as part of the broader Water Quality Combined Funding Program. Future funding cycles are anticipated to follow a similar timeline, with application periods typically occurring in mid-summer and closing in early fall. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor program updates and prepare project proposals in advance of the next anticipated cycle.

Projects should clearly demonstrate measurable nutrient reduction outcomes and align with long term wastewater treatment optimization strategies.