(a) The commission shall establish procedures for awarding competitive grants and disbursing grant money.
(b) The commission shall award competitive grants to support applied research and demonstration projects by accredited colleges and universities in this state, by other governmental entities, or by acceptable public or private research centers regarding on-site wastewater treatment technology and systems applicable to this state that are directed toward improving the quality of wastewater treatment and reducing the cost of providing wastewater treatment to consumers, including wastewater reuse.

(c) The commission shall seek the advice of relevant experts when choosing research topics and awarding grants under this chapter.