Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2021 ORD E1

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a discretionary funding opportunity titled "National Priorities: Water Innovation, Science, Engagement to Advance Water Reuse" (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA G2021 ORD E1; CFDA 66.511). The purpose of this competition is to support projects that move the country closer to clean and safe water reuse by speeding up innovation, expanding the availability of useful information, and strengthening engagement among the many groups involved in water and wastewater management. At its core, the opportunity is designed to help communities and decision-makers better understand U.S. water and wastewater treatment systems and infrastructure, and to improve how efficiently water resources are used by advancing water reuse.

The EPA frames the need in both technical and institutional terms. On the technical side, the agency is looking for efforts that can accelerate practical innovations and improve the science and data behind water reuse, including approaches that help evaluate, communicate, and manage water quality and treatment performance across reuse settings. On the institutional side, the RFA emphasizes reducing barriers that slow adoption, such as gaps in information, inconsistent practices, limited stakeholder understanding, or challenges in coordination across utilities, regulators, and the public. Rather than focusing on a single reuse pathway, the announcement explicitly notes that applications should be relevant to multiple water reuse sources and applications, reflecting the reality that reuse can involve many inputs (for example, municipal wastewater, industrial water, stormwater, or other nontraditional supplies) and many end uses depending on local needs.

This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally means EPA anticipated substantial involvement during the project period (such as collaboration on technical direction, dissemination, or coordination). The total funding scale is significant, with an award ceiling of $3,246,000 per award and an expectation of two awards, indicating the agency intended to fund a small number of larger, higher-impact projects rather than many small grants. The overall theme is national priority work: generating actionable knowledge, tools, and engagement strategies that can be used beyond a single site to help advance water reuse more broadly.

Eligibility is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," signaling that applicants needed to review the full announcement for the precise categories and any conditions or exclusions. The opportunity was posted on July 19, 2021, with an original application closing date of September 29, 2021, and the agency directed applicants to consult the full announcement (especially Section IV) for submission requirements, acceptable submission methods, and any detailed due-date guidance. In short, EPA was seeking ambitious, collaborative projects that can strengthen the science base, make reuse-related information easier to access and apply, and build the engagement needed to expand safe water reuse while overcoming the practical barriers that often prevent promising reuse solutions from scaling.

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NATIONAL PRIORITIES: WATER INNOVATION, SCIENCE, ENGAGEMENT TO ADVANCE WATER REUSE" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.511.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jul 19, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 29, 2021 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,246,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for EPA G2021 ORD E1

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this EPA funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "National Priorities: Water Innovation, Science, Engagement to Advance Water Reuse."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is EPA G2021 ORD E1, and the CFDA number is 66.511.

What is the main purpose of this competition?

The purpose is to support projects that move the U.S. closer to clean and safe water reuse by speeding up innovation, expanding the availability of useful information, and strengthening engagement among groups involved in water and wastewater management.

What kinds of outcomes is EPA trying to achieve through these awards?

EPA is aiming for national-priority work that helps communities and decision-makers better understand U.S. water and wastewater treatment systems and infrastructure, improves how efficiently water resources are used by advancing water reuse, and produces actionable knowledge, tools, and engagement strategies that can be applied beyond a single site.

What types of projects does EPA describe as being responsive on the technical side?

EPA highlights efforts that accelerate practical innovations and improve the science and data behind water reuse, including approaches that help evaluate, communicate, and manage water quality and treatment performance across reuse settings.

What types of challenges does EPA emphasize on the institutional side?

The announcement emphasizes reducing barriers that slow adoption, such as gaps in information, inconsistent practices, limited stakeholder understanding, and challenges in coordination across utilities, regulators, and the public.

Does an application need to focus on one specific reuse pathway?

No. The announcement explicitly notes that applications should be relevant to multiple water reuse sources and applications, reflecting that reuse can involve many inputs and many end uses depending on local needs.

What kinds of water sources and end uses are implied by the announcement?

The announcement indicates reuse may involve inputs such as municipal wastewater, industrial water, stormwater, or other nontraditional supplies, with end uses varying based on local needs (the notice does not limit applicants to a single use case).

What type of award instrument is this opportunity using?

This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

In this context, it means EPA anticipated substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on technical direction, dissemination, or coordination.

How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling is $3,246,000 per award.

How many awards did EPA expect to make?

EPA indicated an expectation of two awards.

Does this opportunity suggest EPA intended to fund many small projects or a few larger projects?

Based on the ceiling amount and the expectation of two awards, EPA appeared to intend funding a small number of larger, higher-impact projects rather than many small grants.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on July 19, 2021.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was September 29, 2021.

Where does EPA direct applicants to find submission requirements and due-date guidance?

EPA directed applicants to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for submission requirements, acceptable submission methods, and detailed due-date guidance.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," meaning applicants needed to review the full announcement for the precise eligible categories and any conditions or exclusions.

What is meant by "national priority work" in this opportunity?

As described, it refers to work that generates actionable knowledge, tools, and engagement strategies that can be used beyond a single location to advance water reuse more broadly.

What is the opportunity trying to improve regarding information and engagement?

The opportunity emphasizes making reuse-related information easier to access and apply, and building engagement among the many groups involved so that safe water reuse can expand while practical barriers to scaling are reduced.

Is the opportunity focused only on technical research, only on outreach, or both?

Both. The description includes technical innovation and improved science/data as well as engagement and barrier-reduction across stakeholders such as utilities, regulators, and the public.

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