This tool helps you obtain funding to support long-term source protection.

Continuous funding is critical to meeting source water protection goals. Your source protection plan should identify ways to secure funding for each proposed activity. You must first obtain buy-in from leadership in your organization, because many funding bodies require political sign-off or support. Collaborating through multipurpose projects can provide access to otherwise unavailable grants, charities, lotteries, donations, and corporate partnerships.

Sustained funding allows programs to build over years, and it allows for long-term planning of projects, knowing that funding is going to be in place. However, benefits from the funding must be continually communicated to keep political will, or funds can be diverted. Building a business case for source protection (TOOL 4) is essential.

Option 1. Create a Source Protection Fund

(adapted from the Conservation Fund Guide)

 Bring partners together
Build a network of support with partners from the watershed, including First Nations, water suppliers, and governments. Create a Steering Committee with terms-of-reference and identify a champion to lead coordinated efforts. Together, create a vision and plan to establish a new source protection fund.

 Determine priorities (from your source water protection plan, but get specific now)
Identify the types of source protection measures that the fund will help implement. These can be land acquisitions, incentive programs, education and community engagement, green infrastructure, or other initiatives. Gauge the community’s support and priorities using opinion polls and focus groups.

 Identify and select best funding options

• Establish a new service area (local governments)
  Local government water suppliers can establish a new service area either within your jurisdiction, or cooperatively through a regional approach. Read how the RDN did it and go to pg. 28 of their original Response Plan to learn about the benefits of a cooperative approach and their reasons to fund the service area through a flat rate parcel tax instead of a property assessment tax, fee, or charge.
• Seek approval to increase revenue from existing streams of income
  Improvement & irrigation districts, water user communities, and water utilities can seek approval to increase revenue from existing streams of income (e.g., taxation, fees, rates, or a combination of) on the basis that the increase will be earmarked to fund source protection.

 Gain support and approval
Make a compelling case to convince the service users and any entity involved in the process of approving budgeting amendments. First, get approval from your council, board, or other governing body. Second, focus on the users—educate and engage them on the intent of the fund, how it will be financed, and how they will benefit from it. Third, present a separate case to any entity involved in the process of approving budget amendments. Make sure to present quantitative evidence of existing support from users.

Option 3. Develop Corporate Partnerships

Businesses recognize the benefits of a having a good environmental reputation. Many participate in programs to minimize or compensate for their environmental impacts because it increases their social licence to operate. Increasingly, citizens expect that businesses operate not only according to regulatory permission, but also to social standards; governments recognize this and are more willing to grant operational permits or licences to businesses with popular support.

Focus on developing corporate relationships with businesses whose community program goals align with your source water protection endeavours. They may be willing to volunteer labour and equipment or direct funds to a partnering environmental group.

Option 5. Earmark Development Permit Fees

Municipalities could mandate environmental protection standards or rehabilitation as part of development permits. They could also earmark fees from development permits so that DPs cover more than just the staff time to manage them.

Option 7. Obtain Grant Funding

Grants are a good source of short-term or supplemental funds but should not be relied on for long-term because programs usually operate for a short duration—hence frustration with unreliable funding.

Short-term funds are available from these providers: Infrastructure Planning Grants; Okanagan Basin Water Board; Green Municipal Fund; Civic Info; B.C. Economic Development and Funding Grants; Real Estate Foundation of B.C.; Government of Canada Environmental Funding; and Clean Water and Wastewater Fund Program.

Pro Tip: Prepare regular annual or biannual 1-page updates and brief (3 minute) presentations of source water protection wins that received sustained funding to maintain interest of funders and stakeholders.