Filter First - Healthy Hydration Grant Application

Michigan public school districts, public school academies, and nonpublic schools per the Michigan Revised School Code, Act 451 of 1976 definitions.

Public and nonpublic schools must be registered in the Educational Entity Master (EEM) application developed by the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI). EEM was developed by CEPI to be a repository which contains directory information for entities (schools) in the educational system of the State of Michigan. EEM is required for access to state and federal grant applications, such as the Michigan Department of Education’s Next Generation Grant, Application and Cash Management system.

A school district or nonpublic school must have information in EEM to utilize the GEMS/MARS grant system to apply for the Filter First – Healthy Hydration grant.

Eligible use of funds may include:

Filtered bottle-filling station (meeting all the following requirements):

• Is connected to customer site piping.
• Filters water and is certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.
• The flow rate through the station is paired to the specified flow rate of the filter cartridge.
• Has a light or other device to indicate filter cartridge replacement status.
• Is designed to fill drinking bottles or other containers for personal water consumption.
• Includes a drinking fountain.
• The station is certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 61 Q<=1.

Tap-mounted water filters

• Must be certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.

Universal cartridge water filters

• Must be filter cartridges featuring molded collars for the purpose of filtering organic and synthetic materials from drinking water in locations of need.
• Must be certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.

Funds may not be used for the following:

• Bottle filling stations that do not meet all the Filter First requirements.
• Any filter that does not meet the NSF/ANSI standards 42 for particulate removal or 53 for lead reduction.
• Purchase and/or installation of drinking fountains.
• Indirect costs (rent, overhead, etc.).

• All school districts, nonpublic schools, and child care centers may apply. Grant awards are based on priority scoring by EGLE.
• Awards will be announced November 27, 2024.
• Labor, bottle fill station, filters, and universal replacement cartridge costs must be incurred between October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2025.
• The following must be submitted via email to the EGLE-DWEHD-FilterFirst@Michigan.gov for reimbursement:
  • Paid invoice with grant eligible items clearly circled or noted
  • Financial Status Report (FSR)
  • Filter specification sheet

All applicants will be scored based on the following criteria:

Underserved community

• Justice40 Parameters for Housing, Health, Legacy Pollution, and/or Water and Wastewater
  • 1 point per category, total 4 points
• Environmental Justice
  • 5 points for >90
  • 4 points for >80
  • 3 points for >70
  • 2 points for >60
  • 1 point for >50
• Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
  • 4 points for >41
  • 3 points for >28.8
  • 2 points for >21.3
  • 1 point for >14.5
• Rural area defined by local codes “43-Rural: Remote” and “42-Rural: Distant”
  • 0 or 4 points, total 4 possible
• Community with high free/reduced lunch
  • 0 or 2 points, total 2

Use of funds priority scoring

• Filtered bottle-filling station
  • 4 points
• Tap-mount filter
  • 3 points
• Universal replacement cartridges
  • 1 point
  • Limit to a 3-month supply/filter

Michigan licensed child care centers per the Child Care Organizations Act 116 of 1973 definition.

Child care centers must be registered in the Educational Entity Master (EEM) application developed by the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI). EEM is required for access to state and federal grant applications, such as the Michigan Department of Education’s Next Generation Grant, Application and Cash Management system.

A child care center must have information in EEM to utilize  the GEMS/MARS grant system to apply for the Filter First – Healthy Hydration grant.

Eligible use of funds may include:

Filtered bottle-filling station (meeting all the following requirements):

• Is connected to customer site piping.
• Filters water and is certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.
• The flow rate through the station is paired to the specified flow rate of the filter cartridge.
• Has a light or other device to indicate filter cartridge replacement status.
• Is designed to fill drinking bottles or other containers for personal water consumption.
• Includes a drinking fountain.
• The station is certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 61 Q<=1.

Tap-mounted water filters

• Must be certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.

Water filter pitchers

• Must be certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.

Universal cartridge water filters

• Must be filter cartridges featuring molded collars for the purpose of filtering organic and synthetic materials from drinking water in locations of need.
• Must be certified to meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI standard 42 for particulate removal.

Funds may not be used for the following:

• Bottle filling stations that do not meet all the Filter First requirements.
• Any filter that does not meet the NSF/ANSI standards 42 for particulate removal or 53 for lead reduction.
• Purchase and/or installation of drinking fountains.
• Indirect costs (rent, overhead, etc.).

• All school districts, nonpublic schools, and child care centers may apply. Grant awards are based on priority scoring by EGLE.
• Awards will be announced November 27, 2024.
• Labor, bottle fill station, filters, and universal replacement cartridge costs must be incurred between October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2025.
• The following must be submitted to EGLE-DWEHD-FilterFirst@Michigan.gov for reimbursement:
  • Paid invoice with grant eligible items clearly circled or noted
  • Financial Status Report (FSR)
  • Filter specification sheet

All applicants will be scored based on the following criteria:

Underserved community

• Justice40 Parameters for Housing, Health, Legacy Pollution, and/or Water and Wastewater
  • 1 point per category, total 4 points
• Environmental Justice
  • 5 points for >90
  • 4 points for >80
  • 3 points for >70
  • 2 points for >60
  • 1 point for >50
• Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
  • 4 points for >41
  • 3 points for >28.8
  • 2 points for >21.3
  • 1 point for >14.5
• Rural area defined by local codes “43-Rural: Remote” and “42-Rural: Distant”
  • 0 or 4 points, total 4 possible
• Community with high free/reduced lunch
  • 0 or 2 points, total 2

Use of funds priority scoring

• Filtered bottle-filling station
  • 4 points
• Tap-mount filter
  • 3 points
• Water Filter Pitchers
  • 2 points
• Universal replacement cartridges
  • 1 point
  • Limit to a 3-month supply/filter