How can you finance environmental studies or works with the Agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse?

Key points

Two schemes are linked in the database to industrial and craft businesses: a grant for studies and a grant for carrying out works. The 12th intervention programme covers 2025-2030. The amount, rates, eligible expenses and eligibility must be confirmed in the current resolution and action sheet.

What is the role of the Agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse?

The Agency funds projects that contribute to good water status, water efficiency, restoring catchment areas and preserving biodiversity across its basin. The 12th programme (2025-2030) targets in particular climate change adaptation and reducing pressures generated by economic activities. Grant applications are submitted via the official Rivage platform.

What business projects can be reviewed?

For industrial and craft activities, projects can cover water savings, pollution prevention or reduction, clean technologies built into production, measurement and monitoring equipment, prevention of accidental pollution or pollution during rainfall, integrated stormwater management, remediation of contaminated sites and soils affecting water, or certain actions to benefit biodiversity. Relevance depends on the Agency's priorities and the corresponding action sheet.

Studies grant

The database links a grant for studies needed to define, assess the feasibility of, or prepare eligible investments and actions, including as part of grouped operations. Topics mentioned include point-source or diffuse toxic pollution, the climate resilience of economic activities, residual pollution sources, water savings and biodiversity. Before commissioning the study, check the eligible expenses, the expected deliverables and the rules on starting operations in the current resolution.

Grant for carrying out works

The database describes a grant for works that reduce pressures generated by industrial and craft activities. Categories mentioned include treatment and sludge management, operations preliminary to treatment or connection, clean technologies, measurement equipment, prevention of accidental pollution, water savings, reduction of waste hazardous to aquatic environments, stormwater management, and remediation of contaminated sites and soils. This list does not mean that every operation is automatically eligible: you need to check the action sheet's conditions.

Who can submit an application?

Both entries in the database target industrial and craft businesses. Location within the Rhin-Meuse basin, the activity, the nature of the pressures on water, the type of expense, and the project's structure all remain decisive factors. Some actions can be encouraged as part of collective operations or Water and Climate contracts. Confirm with the Agency whether your business and site fall within the relevant scope.

How do you prepare the application?

1. Describe the site, the process and the pressures on water. 2. Quantify the starting situation and the expected effects: volumes saved, emissions avoided, risks reduced or environmental improvement. 3. Identify the action sheet and the applicable general rules. 4. Have the expenses, timeline, rates and caps, and supporting documents confirmed. 5. Submit the application via Rivage and follow up through the platform. As a precaution, do not start incurring expenses before checking the rules applicable to starting operations.

Amount and form of support

The database indicates a grant whose amount depends on the project for each of the two schemes. No generic rate or cap is given here: these must be checked in the current resolutions, according to the type of beneficiary, eligible expenses, the nature of the project and state aid rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is the grant automatic? No, submitting an application does not guarantee an award. Can small businesses and craftspeople be covered? The programme provides terms adapted to different audiences, and the database links both schemes to industrial and craft businesses; precise eligibility must be confirmed. Can a study be funded before the works? A studies grant is referenced, subject to the action sheet's conditions. Where do you submit an application? The official website points to the Rivage platform. Are the rates known? They are not generalised here and must be confirmed in the current rules.

Official sources

• Our grants — Agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse
• 12th intervention programme 2025-2030 — Agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse
• Fact sheet — industrial and craft economic activities — Agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse
• Water and Climate contracts — Agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse