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How to apply for funding for municipal water supply and treatment facilities, and wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
Application status: Open until November 30, 2022 for funding approval in 2023.
Ministry responsible: Alberta Transportation
See which projects were approved under government’s recent $150 million water grant announcement: Water Grant – Approved Projects (PDF, 288 KB) .
The Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP), which launched in 1991, provides cost-shared funding to eligible municipalities to help build municipal facilities for water supply and treatment, and wastewater treatment and disposal.
Program funding is determined each budget cycle.
Eligible projects can receive up to 75% of project costs. Funding is calculated as a percentage of eligible project costs (rounded to 2 decimal points) based on the municipality’s official population when the grant is approved.
For hamlets, population is based on a statutory declaration from the municipality applying on the hamlet's behalf.
Populations and grant percentages are determined at the time of approval and do not change during the project.
Official population | Funding |
---|---|
Less than 1,000 | 75 % of eligible project cost |
1,000 to 3,000 | Grant = [(0.5 X Population) + 250] X 100 / Population Example: Population = 2,300 [(0.5 X 2,300) + 250] X 100 / 2,300 = 60.87 Grant = 60.87% of projects costs |
3,001 to 10,000 | Grant = [(0.25 x Population) + 1,000] X 100 / Population Example: Population = 5,300 [(0.25 X 5,300) + 1,000] X 100 / 5,300 = 43.87 Grant = 43.87% of projects costs |
10,001 to 45,000 | Grant = 35 – [0.001 X (Population - 10,000)] Example: Population = 15,300 35 – [0.001 X (15,300 – 10,000)] = 29.7 Grant = 29.7% of project costs |
Individual municipalities can apply for funding to support standalone facilities.
Country residential subdivisions, condominium associations and private developments are not eligible hamlets.
Rural municipalities should ask Alberta Transportation if a hamlet is eligible for funding prior to project implementation.
Rural municipalities can contact Alberta Transportation to request that a community be added to the official list of eligible hamlets. The request must include the population and a plan showing:
The department will assess eligibility of proposed projects. Funding may be available for the following projects:
Optional application information
The following projects are not eligible for this grant:
This grant can cover the following costs:
Municipalities should contact Alberta Transportation to determine eligibility of other related costs.
This grant will not cover the following costs:
Municipalities should contact Alberta Transportation prior to applying to discuss the eligibility of proposed projects.
Funding applications must be submitted to the department by March 15, 2022.
The municipal council must make a motion to apply for funding for the project.
Where projects are not approved, applicants are required to re-affirm their request for funding each November to ensure cost estimates are up to date.
Alberta Transportation will work with the municipality to review the scope of work and the cost-effectiveness of the project.
Regional Directors and Infrastructure Managers in Alberta Transportation’s regional offices are available to provide advice to the municipality during the preparation of the project proposal.
Include the following documents in the application package:
The municipality must enter the project information in the Municipal Grants Management Application.
Submit the application package in person email or mail to your local Alberta Transportation Regional Office representative.
Find your region by checking the Municipalities, Locations and Corresponding Alberta Transportation Regions list (PDF, 608 KB).
Applicants will be notified in writing of the project's eligibility for funding.
Project approval is conditional upon funding availability and the suitability of the project.
Applications will be evaluated based on:
The following will also be considered:
Alberta Transportation, in consultation with the municipality, will select a payment method for each approved project. Larger, more complex projects will require a formal agreement with the municipality.
Alberta Transportation will develop a memorandum of agreement outlining its responsibilities and the municipality’s responsibilities. The agreement will include a grant calculation chart and grant payments schedule.
The mayor or reeve and chief administrative officer must sign 2 copies of the agreement on behalf of the municipality. The signed copies must be witnessed or sealed and then returned to the department for execution.
Work on the funded project must be done on a contract basis.
For smaller projects, it may be more feasible to complete the work on a day labour basis. The municipality must receive prior approval from Alberta Transportation if it wants to use this option.
Work undertaken with municipal forces (equipment and labour) is not eligible under the program.
When renting equipment for construction on a day labour basis, the rental rates for equipment must not exceed the current year rental rates as published in the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association’s Equipment Rental Rates and Membership Roster.
The municipality must advertise tenders for projects undertaken on a contract basis.
Alberta Transportation follows the principle of awarding work to the lowest bona fide bidder.
Municipalities are required to do the same and award work to the lowest bona fide bidder when tendering projects funded by the department.
If the municipality accepts a higher bid without prior approval from the department, the municipality will jeopardize the grant funding for its project.
If the municipality believes there are exceptional circumstances where the lowest bid is unacceptable, it must submit a written report to Alberta Transportation requesting approval to award to other than the low bidder.
The report must clearly explain the municipality’s reasons for the recommendation and provide details of all tenders received. The department will review the report and advise the municipality how it will impact the grant funding.
The municipality must provide the following information before receiving payment:
The municipality is responsible for:
After Alberta Transportation has reviewed the project status it may provide the municipality with an advance payment which is a portion of the estimated grant.
Depending on the program’s cash flow and the status of project, the amount and timing of funding payments may vary.
The timing of the payments can be structured to flow with the construction of the project as determined during the approval process.
The final payment is then issued upon completion and verification of costs.
Funds received from Alberta Transportation that exceed current expenditures must be invested in a separate account.
The interest earned from these funds must be applied to reduce the total project costs, excluding GST.
Project revenue earned through the investment of these funds will be deducted from project costs before the grant calculation is made.
Contact Alberta Transportation for more information on this interest policy.
The municipality must keep Alberta Transportation regularly informed of the project’s progress.
Before receiving additional payment, the municipality must notify the department in writing of costs incurred to date when the project is nearly 80% complete.
Other advance payments may be available over the course of the project, depending on project size and funding availability.
Once the municipality is satisfied that the project is complete, it must notify Alberta Transportation and prepare its submission for final payment.
The department may either inspect the project work or ask the municipality to provide evidence that a professional engineer completed an inspection.
The municipality must submit the following information to Alberta Transportation to receive the final grant payment after the project is complete:
The municipality must advise the department of any cost changes that occurred.
Alberta Transportation will review the final claim before making the final payment to the municipality.
The department may audit projects that receive grant funding.
The municipality must notify Alberta Transportation of project cost or scope changes as soon as possible.
The department will review the information and may approve funding and scope changes that fall within the eligibility limits. Scope changes and cost increases will be considered new projects and may be eligible for future grants.
For more information about the Water for Life program, find your region by checking the Municipalities, Locations and Corresponding Alberta Transportation Regions list (PDF, 608 KB), then contact the Infrastructure Manager in your local Alberta Transportation Regional Office:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-340-5166
Fax: 403-340-4810
Address:
Infrastructure Manager
4th Floor, Provincial Building
4920 51 Street
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6K8
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Hours: 8:15 am to 12:00 pm and 1 pm to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-674-4700
Address:
Infrastructure Manager
4513 62 Avenue
Barrhead, Alberta T7N 1A5
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Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-624-6280
Fax: 780-624-2440
Address:
Infrastructure Manager
1st Floor, Provincial Building
9621 96 Avenue
Peace River, Alberta T8S 1T4
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Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-381-5426
Address:
Infrastructure Manager
3rd Floor, Administration Building
909 3 Avenue North
Lethbridge, Alberta T1H 0H5
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