Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2022 STAR J1
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program, offered a discretionary research grant opportunity focused on improving the performance of enhanced aquifer recharge and better understanding the potential risks of these practices across different regions and hydrogeologic conditions. The core purpose is to develop and strengthen best practices for intentionally replenishing groundwater aquifers, including scenarios where the recharge water may come from impaired or lower-quality sources. This aligns with a major priority in the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP), which was created with input from federal, state, tribal, local, and water-sector partners to expand the technical, financial, and institutional capacity needed for safe and effective water reuse nationwide.
A central driver behind the opportunity is the need for reliable science to support aquifer storage and recovery and related recharge strategies, especially as communities face water scarcity, drought, and competing demands on groundwater. The grant is positioned within the regulatory and public health context established by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which divides responsibility for providing safe drinking water among EPA, states, tribal nations, water systems, and the public. In practice, that means research funded under this opportunity is expected to generate evidence and approaches that help these shared decision-makers evaluate recharge projects, manage water quality concerns, and protect drinking water supplies.
The opportunity explicitly connects to WRAP action 7.4, which emphasizes increasing understanding of current aquifer storage and recovery practices. In other words, EPA is looking for research that moves beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions and instead examines how recharge performance and risk vary depending on local geology, hydrology, and regional conditions. That can include studying how water moves and changes underground during recharge, what contaminants or byproducts may persist or transform, what operational factors influence outcomes, and what monitoring or management practices are most effective in different settings. The overall intent is to reduce uncertainty and produce practical guidance that can be applied across a range of aquifer types and reuse scenarios.
Administratively, this was a grant (not a contract) under CFDA 66.509, categorized under environment-related funding activities. The funding opportunity number was EPA G2022 STAR J1. The announcement was created on September 16, 2022, with an original closing date of November 9, 2022. EPA anticipated making about four awards, with a maximum award size (ceiling) of $2,000,000 per award. Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, indicating that applicants likely needed to consult the official solicitation for precise organizational eligibility requirements and any restrictions.
Overall, the grant opportunity was designed to spur high-quality scientific and engineering research that helps communities and water managers implement enhanced aquifer recharge more safely and effectively. By targeting both performance (how well recharge works) and potential risk (how it could affect groundwater and ultimately drinking water), and by emphasizing differences among regional and hydrogeologic settings, the program aims to produce results that are both scientifically credible and directly useful for real-world water reuse and groundwater management decisions.Apply for EPA G2022 STAR J1
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhance Aquifer Recharge Performance and Potential Risk in Different Regional and Hydrogeologic Settings" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 16, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 09, 2022. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this EPA grant opportunity about?
This opportunity is a discretionary research grant offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program. It focuses on improving the performance of enhanced aquifer recharge and better understanding potential risks of these practices across different regions and hydrogeologic conditions.
What is the main purpose of the research funding?
The core purpose is to develop and strengthen best practices for intentionally replenishing groundwater aquifers. This includes studying recharge scenarios where the source water may be impaired or lower quality, with the goal of producing evidence and approaches that help decision-makers evaluate recharge projects, manage water quality concerns, and protect drinking water supplies.
What is "enhanced aquifer recharge" in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, enhanced aquifer recharge refers to intentional practices that replenish groundwater aquifers, including aquifer storage and recovery and related recharge strategies. The research emphasis is on how well these approaches work (performance) and how they may affect groundwater quality and potential drinking water impacts (risk).
Why is EPA supporting research on aquifer recharge now?
A central driver described in the announcement is the need for reliable science to support aquifer storage and recovery and related recharge strategies as communities face water scarcity, drought, and competing demands on groundwater. The research is intended to reduce uncertainty and support safer, more effective implementation of recharge projects.
How does this opportunity relate to the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP)?
The opportunity aligns with a major priority in the National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP), which was created with input from federal, state, tribal, local, and water-sector partners to expand the technical, financial, and institutional capacity for safe and effective water reuse nationwide.
Which WRAP action is explicitly referenced?
The opportunity explicitly connects to WRAP action 7.4, which emphasizes increasing understanding of current aquifer storage and recovery practices.
What kinds of research topics does EPA appear to be looking for?
Based on the description provided, EPA is looking for research that examines how recharge performance and risk vary with local geology, hydrology, and regional conditions. Examples of topic areas mentioned include:
- How water moves and changes underground during recharge
- What contaminants or byproducts may persist or transform during recharge
- Which operational factors influence outcomes
- Which monitoring or management practices are most effective in different settings
Does the opportunity emphasize regional and hydrogeologic differences?
Yes. The announcement highlights moving beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions and instead studying how outcomes differ across regions and hydrogeologic conditions. The intent is to develop practical guidance applicable across a range of aquifer types and reuse scenarios.
Is the focus only on performance, or also on potential risks?
The focus includes both performance (how well recharge works) and potential risk (how recharge could affect groundwater and, ultimately, drinking water). The research is framed as supporting shared decision-making and protecting drinking water supplies.
How does this connect to drinking water responsibilities and public health?
The opportunity is positioned within the context established by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which divides responsibility for providing safe drinking water among EPA, states, tribal nations, water systems, and the public. Research funded under this opportunity is expected to generate evidence and approaches that help these shared decision-makers evaluate recharge projects and manage water quality concerns.
Which EPA offices and program are associated with this grant?
The grant is offered through EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program.
Is this funding a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant (not a contract).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 66.509.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA G2022 STAR J1.
When was the announcement created and when did it close?
The announcement was created on September 16, 2022. The original closing date was November 9, 2022.
How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about four awards.
What was the maximum award amount?
The maximum award size (ceiling) was $2,000,000 per award.
What type of funding category was this listed under?
The opportunity was categorized under environment-related funding activities.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others." Additional eligibility details were referenced in the full announcement, indicating applicants would need to consult the official solicitation for the precise organizational eligibility requirements and any restrictions.
Does the information provided include the detailed eligibility rules?
No. The information provided indicates that additional eligibility details were in the full announcement, but those detailed rules are not included here.
What is the intended outcome of the funded research?
The intended outcome is to spur high-quality scientific and engineering research that helps communities and water managers implement enhanced aquifer recharge more safely and effectively. The program aims to reduce uncertainty and produce practical guidance that can be applied across a range of aquifer types and reuse scenarios.
What kinds of real-world decisions could the research support?
The description indicates the research is meant to help shared decision-makers evaluate recharge projects, manage water quality concerns, and protect drinking water supplies, especially under varying local and regional conditions.
Does the opportunity address using lower-quality or impaired source water for recharge?
Yes. The opportunity includes scenarios where recharge water may come from impaired or lower-quality sources, with an emphasis on understanding performance and potential risks in those contexts.
Is this opportunity focused on a single aquifer type or reuse scenario?
No. The stated intent is to produce guidance that can be applied across a range of aquifer types and reuse scenarios, while accounting for differences among regional and hydrogeologic settings.
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