Warrensburg Water Resilience Project
Warrensburg, NY
About This Project
Water resilience is critical for Warrensburg's future. This project installs rainwater harvesting and storage systems at key public buildings to reduce municipal water demand and provide backup water during outages. We'll install cisterns to collect roof runoff for irrigation and non-potable uses. Educational programs will teach residents about water conservation and home rainwater harvesting systems.
FUNDING GOAL
$10K
STATUS
Seeking Funding
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
18
LOCATION
Warrensburg, NY
Water & Sanitation
Install rainwater collection systems at public buildings (library, community center) and educate residents on water conservation and harvesting.
Why It Matters
Climate change brings droughts and water infrastructure challenges. Municipal water systems are vulnerable to disruption. Building water resilience at community level protects residents, reduces water costs, and models sustainable practices that families can replicate at home.
Expected Impact
- Estimated 25,000–35,000 gallons of annual rainwater captured for community use
- Target: evaluate potential reduction in municipal water use at participating public buildings
- Target: 80–120 residents trained in water conservation and rainwater harvesting
- Backup water supply capability during emergencies or outages
- Model systems demonstrating feasibility of residential rainwater projects
Community Benefit
Estimated 25,000–35,000 gallons annual water capture. 15–25% reduction in municipal water use at public buildings. 80–120 residents trained in water conservation. Backup emergency water supply.
Timeline
Month 1-2: Engineering assessment and permitting
Month 3-4: System installation at public buildings
Month 5: Educational campaign launch
Ongoing: Maintenance and monitoring
Ownership, Governance & Operations
Ownership
Ownership structure: Systems would likely be owned by municipalities or institutions hosting them (library, community center, public buildings) with UBIf partnership for design, installation, and community education.
Governance
Governance structure: To be determined during project development. Expected participants: municipal facilities managers, UBIf coordinators, community members in education workshops, and technical advisors.
Operations
Operating structure: To be determined during project development. Likely model: municipal facilities staff maintain systems with technical support from partner engineers. Community members educated to monitor and troubleshoot.
Estimated Annual Operating Responsibility
Estimated annual costs: ~$700 (maintenance & repairs $400 + educational workshops $300). Potential responsibility: host institution (municipality) with community volunteer support.
Current Decision Point
Need: Complete engineering feasibility assessment and obtain municipal approval for 2–3 pilot sites
Funding & Financial Information
Financial Status
TOTAL PROJECT COST
$10,000
FUNDING SECURED
$0
CURRENT FUNDING GOAL
$10,000
FUNDING GAP
$10,000
Funding Status: We are seeking funding for this project. None has been secured at this time. The amounts above represent initial estimates based on projected needs and should be verified through detailed feasibility studies, vendor quotes, and professional assessments.
Startup Cost Breakdown
Estimated Annual Operating Costs
In-Kind Contributions (Not Included in Funding Goal)
In-kind contributions (volunteer labor, donated materials, provided space) are not counted as secured funding but represent essential project resources.
Long-Term Sustainability
After installation, systems require minimal maintenance (estimated $400/year). Long-term sustainability comes from municipal partnerships, grant funding for educational components, and potential expansion to additional buildings.
Next Funding Milestone
Raise first $2,000 to complete engineering assessment and obtain municipal approvals for pilot installation
Funding Readiness & Strategy
Funding Readiness Level
Level 1: Budget Defined
Multi-Source Funding Strategy
Multi-source approach: NY environmental justice and climate grants, EPA water infrastructure financing, municipal partnerships, private donations.
Funding Opportunities
The following are real funding programs that may be relevant to this project. Each is categorized by status to help understand whether we're actively pursuing it, considering it, or still researching. No funding amounts are assumed—all award ranges require verification with the funding agency.
NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Justice Grant Program
NY DEC
WHY IT FITS
Water resilience supports environmental justice and climate adaptation
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Environmental justice focus required
GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY
New York state
FUNDING RANGE
Varies by program
NEXT ACTION
Contact NY DEC to identify environmental justice grants for water resilience projects
Last verified: Feb 2025
Official source →EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (WIFIA)
EPA
WHY IT FITS
EPA water infrastructure programs support community water resilience
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Typically requires established water/wastewater utilities — requires verification
GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY
Nationwide
FUNDING RANGE
Research lead — varies by financing program
NEXT ACTION
Verify municipal/institutional eligibility for EPA water financing programs
Last verified: Feb 2025
Official source →NY Climate Smart Communities Grant Program
NY DEC
WHY IT FITS
Directly supports climate resilience and water conservation infrastructure
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
NY municipalities, counties, and certain organizations
GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY
New York state
FUNDING RANGE
Varies by funding round
NEXT ACTION
Review NY Climate Smart Communities grant deadlines and application process
Last verified: Feb 2025
Official source →Funding Pipeline
This is how projects typically move through the funding process:
Research
Identify funding programs and sources relevant to project
Eligibility
Verify project and organization meet program requirements
Partner
Connect with partner organizations if required by funder
Application
Develop and submit grant applications or funding requests
Award
Receive funding approval and finalize award agreement
Implementation
Deploy project and meet reporting requirements
Note: Not every project will follow this pipeline exactly. Some may pursue multiple funding sources in parallel, or skip certain stages based on their specific circumstances.
What We Need From Members
Plumbing skills
Storage tanks
Engineering support
Educational materials
What Happens Next?
Complete engineering feasibility study for 2–3 public buildings and obtain municipal approval for pilot system installation
Replication
This rainwater harvesting system design and management protocol can be documented and shared with other communities adopting water resilience strategies, along with cost estimates, technical specifications, and volunteer training materials.
Ways to Help
Donate money: Fund cisterns, plumbing, and engineering
Donate materials: Storage tanks, gutters, or plumbing supplies
Donate labor: Plumbing installation or system design support
Plumber: Install and maintain rainwater systems
Engineer: Help with system design and permitting
Educator: Lead water conservation workshops
Funding Status
0 supporters
Volunteers Needed
volunteers to make this work
We're Looking For
Interested in This Work?
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