South Dakota Seeking Applications for Clean Water Grants

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources is accepting applications for grants to support projects aimed at improving water quality.

Officials say they expect about $2 million will be available for South Dakota projects. Conservation districts, water development districts, counties, cities, universities and American Indian tribes can apply for the grants through Oct. 1.

The grants from the federal Environmental Protection Agency require a 40 percent local funding match.

The federal Clean Water Act provides grants to reduce water pollution from nonpoint sources such as runoff from urban, agricultural and forest lands.

Such pollution comes from heavily fertilized lawns, urban street and pet wastes, agricultural fields and small livestock operations. The primary nonpoint source pollutants in South Dakota are sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen and fecal coliform bacteria.