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Funding for Water Protection Advisory Projects
Closed

Grant
Last updated: 14.6.2025

The State of Lower Saxony and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, in cooperation with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), support projects for water protection advisory services. The aim is to improve drinking water protection and the status of groundwater and surface water bodies by supporting advisory and information services, as well as model and pilot projects in agriculture, forestry, and commercial horticulture. The program offers grants for public water supply companies and public law entities.

Who is funded?

This funding program targets specific actors in water supply and water protection. It supports public water supply companies, their associations, and public law entities responsible for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive in Lower Saxony. Measures must be carried out in designated drinking water abstraction areas or target areas in Lower Saxony or Bremen to ensure drinking water protection and the good status of groundwater and surface water bodies.

What is funded?

The water protection advisory program funds a range of measures aimed at protecting water resources. This includes comprehensive advisory and information services for agricultural, forestry, and horticultural businesses, the creation of advisory bases and concepts, and investigations of soils, plants, and waters. Additionally, model and pilot projects that contribute to the development and demonstration of water-friendly management systems are supported.

Type and Extent of Funding

Funding for water protection advisory services is granted as a non-repayable subsidy, covering the full eligible expenses. There are specific minimum annual expenses for certain advisory services. Financing is provided 80% by EU funds from EAFRD and 20% by state funds. Project durations are based on protection concepts or are at least one year.

Conditions and Requirements

Specific legal and professional conditions apply to the granting of subsidies within the framework of water protection advisory services. These include the obligation to comply with protection concepts and the qualification of the advising persons. Model and pilot projects must be innovative and must not overlap with already funded or investigated projects. The program is subject to specific EU state aid rules applied within the EAFRD fund.

Application Procedure

The application for funding must be submitted to the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) before the measure begins. Applications are made using prescribed forms provided by the approving authority. A decision on funding is made at the discretion of the authority and within the limits of available budgetary funds. Qualified receipts must be submitted for fund disbursement and proof of use.

The funding of water protection advisory projects is based on a specific directive from the Lower Saxony Ministry for Environment, Energy and Climate Protection, granted with the financial involvement of the European Union. This directive is embedded in comprehensive EU regulations on the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and national administrative provisions. It sets the framework for the funded measures and their implementation.

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Funding Overview

Open Until

Open Until:

31.12.2025

Award Channel

Award Channel:

Demand Driven Scheme

Region

Region:

Lower Saxony, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen

Sectors

Sectors:

Agriculture and Agribusiness, Water and Waste Management, Environmental and Climate Protection

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries:

Agriculture and Forestry, Commercial Horticulture, Public Water Supply, Water Protection, Environmental and Nature Conservation

Funding Stages

Funding Stages:

Planning, Experimental Development, Pilot Testing, Implementation, Capacity Building, Awareness Campaigns, Evaluation

Funding Provider

Program Level: Regional

Funding Body: Lower Saxony Ministry for Environment, Energy and Climate Protection, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Managed By: Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN)

Website: Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN)