Water Replenishment Projects:
Infrastructure, Agriculture, Nature-Based Solutions
Request for information

Our objective is to replenish more water than we consume by 2030 and to improve water quality and ecosystem health. We seek partners for measurable, quantifiable volumetric benefit projects.

1. Infrastructure (engineered efficiency/reuse),
2. Agricultural (water delivery and farm-level water savings and efficiency), and
3. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) (restoration and green infrastructure).

To choose the category that best describes the primary technology or methodology used to determine water replenishment, see the Project Categorization Guide for additional information and example projects.

Yes. All three RFI categories are open for submissions from March 16 through April 30.

We intend to repeat this process in the future, but specific schedules and funding parameters are yet to be determined.

Any entity capable of implementing and managing voluntary water stewardship projects, including water utilities, municipal governments, nonprofits, private companies, and Tribal governments. The entity must be able to accept corporate funding.

Funding a project that is already in the construction phase is made on a case-by-case basis. The project would not be disqualified but a determination would need to be made on whether or not Google would be able to claim the Volumetric Water Benefits (VWB) on a project that is currently under construction. Projects that have completed the construction phase are not eligible for retroactive funding.

No. Projects designed solely to meet or mitigate legal/regulatory compliance obligations or tied to ongoing regulatory action are not eligible for funding.

We prioritize projects in the target watersheds where Google operates. Please refer to the Interactive Focus Geographies Map for details on priority locations. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to share the Shapefiles for our priority watershed map, but below is a table listing all the priority watersheds with corresponding Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUC). Please note our priority regions are often delineated not only by hydrologic boundaries but also by state lines. We try to balance making an impact as close as possible to the areas where we operate, while also acknowledging that hydrologic interconnections can be extensive.

Google has a goal of replenishing more freshwater than we consume by 2030 in the watersheds where we operate offices and data centers. This map shows Google’s priority locations and watersheds. If a watershed is not shown on the map then that area is not currently one of Google’s priority locations, and projects in that watershed do not qualify for our water replenishment program.

Yes, as long as one entity will be receiving the funding, it is acceptable to implement a project in multiple water systems within the same watershed.

This funding opportunity is specifically intended to support project implementation costs needed to secure VWB. Research or studies needed to refine the project, or complementary to the monitoring of project co-benefits should be listed as separate budget components. We will evaluate these on a case-by-case basis.

Google will comprehensively evaluate proposals based on project alignment with our goals, feasibility and technical merit, financial viability and cost-effectiveness, and the applicant’s capacity to execute the project. Projects that provide enough information to demonstrate they meet the criteria outlined are more likely to be selected for funding.

For California submissions, in addition to volumetric benefits, projects should demonstrate strong potential for watershed health co-benefits (e.g., improvements in biodiversity, water quality, and/or ecosystem health) in alignment with regional priorities (i.e., as identified by local, state, or federal sources). Projects that aim to scale impact beyond the site (e.g., via collective action, public-private partnerships, innovation pilots, policy and governance solutions) are also of interest.

All projects must calculate and report volumetric benefits (in MGY) following the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) 2.0 Guidance. Outside of California, projects should provide at least 100 MGY of quantifiable benefit. In California, projects should result in at least ~5 MGY.

Applicants can include salaries/wages and other administrative costs as part of the budget. Include expenses in the appropriate budget category in the budget proposal and narrative.

Include reasonable contingencies in the estimated costs. Contingency amounts should reflect project unknowns and be in line with ranges used in the industry.

Projects must be operational by 2030 and provide measurable volumetric benefits for a minimum of five years from the start of operations. Infrastructure projects are expected to have a project duration of at least 10 years.

There is not a specific budget or number of projects that will be funded under this opportunity.

Google does not require a minimum cost‐share or matching‐fund contribution on applicants that are eligible to apply for this opportunity.

Applicants may use funding to support the implementation of a project, which could include planning and design, construction and implementation, operations and maintenance, as well as monitoring and reporting.

Several major campuses are located in the state adding to Google’s overall water consumption, albeit smaller than areas with data centers. Given the smaller consumption rate in California, projects located in the state will likely have a smaller funding range of approximately $100,000–$600,000.

Projects outside of California and within the list of priority basins are eligible for the full funding range of $350,000–$6 million.

Google will review all RFI submissions at the end of the submission period. We will invite select applicants to submit a Technical Proposal during the Request For Proposals (RFP) phase. We aim to issue RFP invitations in Q2 2026, subject to the volume of submissions received. Google will make funding decisions in November 2026, subject to receipt of all required information.

Google will determine specific reporting requirements on a project-by-project basis. Reporting must provide sufficient detail to enable validation of volumetric benefits during the reporting period. Annual reporting for replenishment projects would typically include yearly updates on performance and significant changes along with any documentation for measurement or metering that demonstrates that the replenishment claim is valid.

Prior to project implementation, a benefit summary will be prepared by a third party for the project that includes an estimate of the project’s volumetric benefits. Following funding, we require validation, along with ongoing monitoring, that the project has been implemented as agreed upon contractually. We also require annual reports highlighting project performance along with any documentation for measurement or metering that demonstrates the replenishment claim is valid. Google’s third-party validation partners will be engaged in the initial project review as well as annual report review and can provide guidance on monitoring and reporting expectations once a project is selected for funding. We understand that certain elements are outside anyone’s control (e.g., precipitation and other environmental factors), which is why we are conservative in our volumetric benefit estimates prior to implementation.

Applicants must submit project ideas via the specific Google form linked above in the How to respond section for your chosen category (Infrastructure, Agriculture, or Nature-Based Solutions).

For this opportunity, there is not a formal cap on the number of projects that a single entity may submit. However, we will prioritize projects with complete submissions and location-specific information.

Applicants should make reasonable efforts to accurately submit all available project information. Initial VWB and cost estimates are acceptable as long as assumptions are clearly indicated in the submission. Applicants may submit additional details and backup documentation if a project is invited to submit a Technical Proposal through the RFP phase. However, Google will give priority to projects that submit complete information to evaluate the project parameters.

You are welcome to submit additional information by sending it to the corresponding contact email address (Infra.water.RFI@gmail.com for infrastructure projects, NBS.water.RFI@gmail.com for NBS projects, and Ag.water.RFI@gmail.com for Agricultural projects). Note this RFI is not the entirety of the application process. Should your project be selected, we will invite you to respond to a formal RFP, which will require additional information. Any backup documentation provided at this time will be helpful for the subsequent RFP, but is not required for the initial submission.

We have a very lean team and unfortunately are unable to meet with all potential interested applicants to discuss potential projects. For the RFI we encourage potential partners to submit entries for any projects that may be eligible based on the information provided in the RFI announcement. Direct initial questions to the corresponding contact email address (Infra.water.RFI@gmail.com for infrastructure projects, NBS.water.RFI@gmail.com for NBS projects, and Ag.water.RFI@gmail.com for Agricultural projects). We will invite selected projects to submit a Technical Proposal, and they will have the opportunity to receive feedback as part of the RFP process.

Submit all inquiries regarding the Water Replenishment Projects: RFI to the corresponding contact email address (Infra.water.RFI@gmail.com for infrastructure projects, NBS.water.RFI@gmail.com for NBS projects, and Ag.water.RFI@gmail.com for Agricultural projects).

To ensure a timely evaluation of project submissions, we will not grant extensions to the submission period. We encourage all applicants to submit via the specific Google Form well in advance of the closing date.

Google will invite select projects to submit a Technical Proposal under the RFP phase. The Technical Proposal will request additional information to understand the project activities, implementing partners and roles, schedule, monitoring plan, VWB estimates, and cost estimates. We will ask partners to provide a completed Technical Proposal within six weeks of receiving an invitation. We will subject all Technical Proposals to third-party validation to confirm alignment with VWBA 2.0 guidance, which may require additional information or follow-up questions.

Please keep applications focused on the project that was submitted via the RFI and explicitly invited to submit an application in this RFP phase.

The Technical Proposal should include the requested information outlined in the provided template. Applicants may embed maps in the document where relevant. Any additional supporting documents including technical reports may be cited in the Technical Proposal and submitted as electronic attachments via email along with the RFP submission.

Google team members or partners will be available to answer questions from applicants invited to submit an application through the RFP process. Please reach out to the corresponding contact email address (Infra.water.RFI@gmail.com for infrastructure projects, NBS.water.RFI@gmail.com for NBS projects, and Ag.water.RFI@gmail.com for Agricultural projects) describing your inquiry, and a team member or partner will respond depending on needs.

Google and our technical partners will review applications. All proposal materials will remain confidential. Any public announcements regarding projects selected for funding will be subject to review and approval by project partners.

Quotes from contractors are not required for the Technical Proposal. However, the applicants should make reasonable efforts to accurately estimate total project costs with the understanding that they will be responsible for any additional funding if the actual project costs exceed the grant award. See also question about including budget contingencies under the Project Parameters section.

Awardees can follow their own procurement procedures to execute the project work.