Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: value of the emergency infrastructure or water carting/bottled water requirement for the emergency.
- Application opened: 1 July 2025
- Application closes: 30 June 2030, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Support regional town and village supplies that are threatened by circumstances that could not be reasonably planned for, such as an extreme dry period or extreme water quality event.
This program is administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Local councils and County Councils, as identified under the Local Government Act 1993 (providing water supply and/or sewerage services under Section 56).
- Water supply authorities (as identified in the Water Management Act 2000).
- Joint organisations (as defined by the Office of Local Government).
- Town water suppliers in unincorporated areas.
Ensure you have read and understood the policy in full prior to making an application for funding - Emergency Water Supply Policy
Location that are eligible include Albury City, Armidale Regional, Ballina, Balranald, Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Berrigan, Bland, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Byron, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Dungog, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hay, Hilltops, Inverell, Junee, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lachlan, Leeton, Lismore, Lithgow City, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western Regional, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Snowy Monaro Regional, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth Regional, Temora, Tenterfield, Tweed, Unincorporated Far West, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan Shire, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Yass Valley
Who the grant is targeted towards
The grant will only apply to essential domestic, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes in urban areas, or to essential domestic purposes in non-urban areas. The basis of subsidy for water cartage will be the actual cost of cartage, subject to Council targeting minimum essential quantities and implementing a high level of water restrictions that prohibits outdoor usage.
If water is carted for drinking purposes, the eligible organisation must follow NSW Health’s ‘NSW Guidelines for Water Carters’ document.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Emergency financial grant assistance
Where water cartage is agreed as the most cost-effective means of maintaining essential supplies, the department may pay a subsidy based on eligible costs incurred.
Financial assistance can also be provided for the emergency provision of bottled water in exceptional circumstances.
Emergency infrastructure grant assistance
The cost of design and construction of approved water emergency works where the source of supply is at very high or imminent risk of failure or has failed as the result of an extreme event.
Outcomes for projects funded under this grant
Sufficient clean drinking water for regional towns to ensure that critical human water needs are met.
What costs you can't apply for
Water Cartage
Financial assistance is not available for operations and maintenance activities, or for costs of management by LWU staff. The local water utility is responsible for town water services.
Emergency Capital Works
Financial assistance will not extend to the operating costs of the works, nor to the costs of managing supplies (such as the policing of rationing and waste). These are the normal responsibilities of local water utilities.
Example projects
Emergency financial grant assistance
- Water cartage
- Bottled water (in exceptional circumstances)
Emergency infrastructure grant assistance
- constructing emergency bore supplies, creating an emergency connection to another water source or water supply scheme, developing new emergency water sources or other temporary emergency capital works
- installation of high-flow standpipes to provide potable water filling points for water carters and domestic water for rural customers.
What co-contributions are required
The amount of funding assistance available for water carting or bottled water will be limited to 90% of eligible costs, unless financial hardship can be demonstrated.
The amount of funding assistance available for emergency capital works will usually be limited to a percentage based on the department’s grants program subsidy band limits (or equivalent based on population serviced for town water supply authorities in unincorporated areas), unless financial hardship can be demonstrated.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Water Cartage
The application should include:
- a copy of the emergency or water carting plan
- details of any consideration given to, or steps taken towards, establishing an emergency supply from another source
- the location of the source of water to be used, the method of cartage proposed, the number of loads and frequency
- the likely cost of purchase and transportation of water
- copies of all correspondence with transport contracts regarding cartage, where available.
Emergency Capital Works
The proposal should include:
- a copy of the technical report
- a full description of the proposed works, stating their location, whether or not they are permanent, and the quantity, quality and security of supply they will provide
- an estimate of the capital cost of the works
- envisaged dates of commencement and completion
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be assessed against the criteria relevant to the stream applied for.
Alignment with Program Objectives The proposal meets the objectives of the emergency grant program and supports the continuation of essential water supply during an emergency event.
Emergency Impact The application clearly details the nature, timing and severity of the emergency event and its physical, economic and social impacts on the community.
Capacity and Deliverability The applicant demonstrates sufficient capacity, experience and resources to deliver the proposed project within the nominated timeframe and budget.
Project Detail and Supporting Documentation The proposal provides sufficient detail and evidence to support assessment, including emergency supply arrangements or technical documentation, cost estimates and implementation planning, as relevant to the stream applied for.
Start the application
An EOI is made to the department and a determination made if the scope of works qualifies.
If assessed as eligible the applicant, within 7 business days will be invited to submit a full proposal.
The applicant will be advised in writing of the outcome following submission of the proposal to the department and subsequent assessment
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Jane Shepherd
Following an Expression of Interest, the applicant will be notified by the department within 7 business days and invited to submit a detailed proposal application for assessment.
The Local Water Utilities Branch (LWUB) will assess the application with the outcome of the assessment determined by the Director, LWUB - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The applicant will be advised in writing of the outcome.
Support and contact
Email: sswp@dpie.nsw.gov.au