Closed
Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF)
Funding for housing-enabling water infrastructure
Last Update: April 29, 2026
Funding available
$ 35,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : August 14, 2024
- Closing date : November 1, 2024
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
This Ontario program provides up to $35 million per project for water infrastructure that supports housing growth. It funds the development, repair, rehabilitation and expansion of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Increase production or service capacity
- Implement environmental initiatives
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 35,000,000 $
- Up to 73% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : August 14, 2024
- Closing date : November 1, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Public administration
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development of drinking water infrastructure.
- Repair, rehabilitation and expansion of wastewater systems.
- Expansion and improvement of stormwater infrastructure.
- Bundled water infrastructure projects supporting housing development.
Documents Needed
- HEWSF application form
- Project map in KML format
- Land use planning information
- Supporting documents requested in the application, such as engineering plans or design reports
- Optional environmental assessment, if applicable
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Ontario municipalities that own water, wastewater or stormwater infrastructure.
- Single-tier municipalities that will own the water assets after completion.
- Joint municipal applicants with shared project ownership and financial contribution.
Who is not eligible
- Privately owned drinking water systems.
- Municipalities receiving HEWSF funding from a previous intake or under a New Deal agreement.
- Standalone Indigenous projects.
Eligible expenses
- Capital costs for eligible water infrastructure projects.
- Pre-construction planning and design work tied to a capital project.
- Duty-to-Consult and environmental assessment costs.
- Restoration of affected assets to pre-construction condition.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Application preparation costs.
- Projects that have already started construction.
- Operational and maintenance costs.
- Land acquisition costs.
- Financing charges, interest, bank fees and legal fees.
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after the deadline.
- Incomplete applications may be screened out.
- Eligible projects are evaluated by the Province.
- Approved projects require a Transfer Payment Agreement.
- Payments are made after required milestones and reports are accepted.
Additional information
- Applications are now closed.
- Joint applications may receive additional consideration.
- Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) is the application portal.
- Successful applicants must sign a Transfer Payment Agreement.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF)?
This Ontario program provides up to $35 million per project for water infrastructure that supports housing growth. It funds the development, repair, rehabilitation and expansion of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
How much funding can be received?
Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) Funds up to 73% of admissible expenses, capped at $35,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was November 1, 2024.
Who is eligible for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) program?
To be eligible for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) program, you must:
Municipal ownership required.
Project must enable housing.
Project must be capital-based.
What expenses are eligible under Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF)?
Development of drinking water infrastructure.
Repair, rehabilitation and expansion of wastewater systems.
Expansion and improvement of stormwater infrastructure.
Bundled water infrastructure projects supporting housing development.
Who can I contact for more information about the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF)?
You can contact Government of Ontario by email at HEWS@ontario.ca or by phone at 416-325-6691.
Where is the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) available?
The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) program is available the province of Ontario.