Community Wastewater Innovation Fund (CWIF)
The Community Wastewater Innovation Fund supports councils to advance their Community Wastewater Management Systems. Funding helps councils collaborate, increase skills, improve sustainability, benchmark and seek technological advances.
This grant is unique to South Australia and is funded through the Local Government CWMS Program. Led by LGA, the CWMS Program funds research and development projects that benefit SA councils and supports them with Community Wastewater Management Schemes.
Applications now open
Applications for the 2026-27 grant round are now open until 4 pm on 18 December 2026. Check eligibility and application details below.
Read the 2026-27 grant guidelines (PDF 883.1 KB).
Who can apply
- all South Australian councils
- regional local government associations
- education institutions and universities
- local government professional bodies
- organisations interested in collaborating with local government.
Eligible projects
The 2026-27 grant round supports short-term, targeted projects that can be delivered in six months or less.
Applicants should make sure proposed projects have a clear scope, achievable milestones and practical outcomes that can be completed within this timeframe.
Eligible projects must address the CWMS needs of local government in the following priority areas:
- asset management and infrastructure sustainability
- capacity and strategic planning
- innovation, technology and data solutions
- sector capability, governance and collaboration
- enhancing skills and knowledge
- operations and incident management.
How to apply
To apply for funding, you need to:
- review eligibility and assessment criteria in the 2026-27 grant guidelines (PDF 883.1 KB)
- apply online via Smarty Grants.
Applications close: 4 pm on Friday 18 December 2026.
About the CWMS Program
LGA manages the Scheme through the CWMS Management Committee (CMC). Their role is to monitor the activities of the Scheme and provide advice to the LGA Board of Directors.
The CMC has established the Community Wastewater Innovation Fund to support the broader CWMS sector.
Visit CWMS Management Committee to learn more.
Grant recipients
You can view some CWIF projects in our Research Library or see a summary of successful projects below:
Grant recipients for 2025-26
Applicant | Project title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide University | Data-Driven Long-term Climate Risk Modelling for Community Wastewater Management. | $48,450 |
| Copper Coast Council | Design of Trade Waste Facility. | $24,500 |
| Adelaide University | Cost benefit analysis of using a packaged modular treatment system as an expansion option for existing CWMS. | $48,793 |
| Adelaide Hills Council | A.C.A.R.T. for South Australian Wastewater Systems- A Contextual, Accessible and Resilient Trade Waste Framework, Staged Network Plan and Asset Monitoring Platform. | $42,500 |
| Recycled Water Solutions | Future Ready Reuse: Building Awareness, Readiness and Capability in Council-Operated Recycled Water Schemes. | $45,000 |
Grant recipients for 2024-25
Applicant | Project title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandrina Council | Enhancing nutrient removal and increasing plant capacity through aerobic granular sludge. | $50,000 |
| Environmental Health Australia (EHA) | Driving efficiency and compliance in Wastewater Management: Business case for a statewide solution. | $47,945 |
| University of South Australia | Evaluation of fluorescence sensor to monitor wastewater, assess treatment performance and develop warning alarm using machine learning. | $49,536 |
| The Flinders Ranges Council | Quorn CWMS Static Digital Twin Creation (Phase 1). | $35,000 |
| The Flinders Ranges Council | Quorn CWMS Static Digital Twin Creation (Phase 2). | $35,000 |
Grant recipients for 2023-24
Applicant | Project title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fluid Environmental | Understanding CWMS retrofitting options to increase capacity, reduce complexity and cost. | $50,000 |
| University of South Australia | Climate resilience CWMS through data driven awareness. | $39,450 |
| District Council of Loxton Waikerie | CWMS capacity analysis and management tool. | $35,000 |
| The Barossa Council | Barossa Council CWMS network recycled water balance monitoring upgrade project. | $31,000 |
| Mount Barker District Council | Wastewater systems hydraulic model. | $30,000 |
| City of Onkaparinga | Feasibility study into onsite solids separation. | $20,000 |
| City of Onkaparinga | Impact of septic tank desludge frequency on CWMS. | $20,000 |
Find out more
David Eggers, CWMS Program Manager
Email: cwms@lga.sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8224 2053