Private Well Protection Grant
Clean Water Fund

Applicants must be a local, regional, or tribal unit of government working in at least one of the eligible jurisdictions.

Due to the petition to EPA to address nitrate in southeastern Minnesota, separate appropriations have been awarded to the following eight counties to meet similar objectives and are not eligible to apply: Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona.

Proposals must include all of the following elements:

• Outreach and education efforts to diverse groups of private well users about private well testing. 
• No-cost private well testing through an accredited laboratory for five common contaminants (coliform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead, and manganese) within a defined area with a one test per household/well limit, this includes multiple homes with a shared well.  
• Provide technical assistance and mitigation information to private well users so they understand their arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead, manganese, and/or nitrate results and potential options to address water quality issues.   
• Process for collecting water quality testing data including the corresponding unique well ID number or location if available.

Allowable Expenses Include (but are not limited to):

• Staff costs to plan and implement the program.
• Laboratory costs associated with private well water analysis for all five contaminants, including shipping costs - Must use a laboratory accredited by the MDH Environmental Accreditation Program.
• Reimbursement of in-state travel expenses (mileage).
• Program promotion.

Ineligible Expenses

• Out-of-state travel.
• Fundraising.
• Taxes, except sales tax on goods and services.
• Lobbyists, political contributions.
• Bad debts, late payment fees, finance charges or contingency funds.

Please read through the RFP and submit the Application document or use your own template answering the same questions.  

Application Deadline: Friday July 17, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. central time.

Application Instructions:

You must submit the following content in order for the application to be considered complete:

• Application with Project Narrative and Work Plan. 
• Budget.
• Applicant Conflict of Interest Disclosure form.
• Due Diligence Review Form. 

Incomplete applications will be rejected and not evaluated.

Applications must be submitted via email to:

Anne Nelson
Partner Engagement and Communications Specialist
Water Policy Center, Environmental Health Division 
Minnesota Department of Health
anne.nelson@state.mn.us

There are no match requirements.

The estimated grant start date is August 15th, 2026 - May 1st, 2029.

Collaboration

This grant prioritizes collaborative efforts. At least one collaborator is required. Soil and water conservation districts, environmental services, public health, water testing laboratories, medical professionals, schools, and other organizations can all help protect private well users’ health.

Infants and Children and Low-Income Households

This grant prioritizes efforts that target households with infants and children and low-income households.

Health Equity

This grant prioritizes proposals that engage diverse groups of private well users. Diverse groups include:

• Racial and ethnic communities, including American Indians
• People for whom English is not their first language
• LGBTQI communities
• Disability status
• Veterans
• Home ownership vs. rental status
• Socio-economic status
• Diversity of ages

All questions regarding this grant must be submitted by email to Anne Nelson at anne.nelson@state.mn.us. All answers will be posted within one week on this section of the webpage.