Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program
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The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program provides long-term below market rate loans to community and non-profit, non-community public water systems (PWSs) to finance infrastructure improvement projects. Examples include storage tanks, treatment works, and water mains. Loans have interest rates at approximately half the market rate and repayment terms can be up to 20 years. The program supports and recognizes strong infrastructure sustainability programs that emphasize prevention as a tool for ensuring long term safe and affordable drinking water to Connecticut’s residents. The program also places an emphasis on providing loans to small water systems and communities most in need. PWSs which serve fewer than 10,000 persons are strongly encouraged to apply.
Call for Projects
The DWSRF program has issued its Call for Projects for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025All eligible water systems with ready-to-proceed infrastructure projects are encouraged to apply. Further details on the program, loan conditions, eligibility, and deadlines can be found in the documents linked below.
- EHDW Circular Letter #2024-09
- DWSRF SFY 2025 Call for Projects Public Notice
- DWSRF SFY 2025 Call for Projects Second Public Notice
Explanation of Priority Ranking System
For SFY 2025, the DWSRF program has introduced a new system for priority ranking projects. The Disadvantaged Community Index (DCI) is a wholistic approach to identifying communities in need. The public health risk tier system ensures that projects addressing acute and chronic public health risks are prioritized. The upcoming webinars (see below) will provide further explanation. DCI scores can be found using the GIS tool provided below.
Eligibility Application and Instructions
Interested public water systems must fill out an eligibility application for each new project. A project’s eligibility for funding, its priority ranking, and its readiness to proceed is determined based on the information submitted with this application. The application must be completed in its entirety for a project to be considered for DWSRF loans. Additional instructions for the application can be found in the document below. Projects which have been submitted in previous years, but have not yet executed a loan agreement with the DWSRF program, must complete a rollover application to be considered for funding. These applications have changed from previous years.
- Eligibility Application for SFY 2025
- Eligibility Application Instructions for SFY 2025
- Rollover Application for SFY 2025
- Emergency Power Generator Program Application
- Small Loan Program Application
Webinars
The DPH hosted two webinars on the DCI system which were recorded and posted on the DPH YouTube channel. The webinar held on March 12th was tailored towards large water systems and the webinar held on March 13th towards small water systems. Links to the recorded webinars and the accompanying presentations are available below:
Call for Questions
The DPH introduced a formal Call for Questions process. Questions were accepted via email from March 8, 2024, through March 27, 2024. The submitted questions and answers for the First Call for Questions are provided below.
A Second Call for Questions was held from April 2, 2024, through April 12, 2024. The submitted questions and answers for the Second Call for Questions are provided below:
In addition, DPH held Virtual Office Hours on April 22, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm to provide a final opportunity for any additional questions. The Virtual Office Hours session was recorded and will be available soon.
SFY 2024 Intended Use Plan – Now Final
The Drinking Water Section has finalized the State Fiscal Year 2024 Intended Use Plan (IUP). To view the IUP documents please click on Call for Projects, Review and Ranking of Projects and scroll down to the section titled “Intended Use Plan and Project Priority List”.
Frequently-Used Forms
To assist PWS and consultants in preparing submissions to the DPH, we are providing direct links to our most commonly used applications, forms and checklists below.
- Financial Assistance Application
- CEQ Environmental Scoping Notice template
- Engineering Report Application Checklist
- Professional Services Contract Application Checklist
- Pre-Bid Construction Contract Application Checklist
- Authorization to Award Construction Contract Application Checklist
- Planning/Design Phase MBE/WBE Form
- Construction Phase MBE/WBE Form
- MBE/WBE Subcontractor Verification Form
- MBE/WBE Semi-annual Reporting Form | Instructions
Electronic Submittal of Documents
The DWSRF Program is transitioning to the electronic submittal of all forms and documents, with the use of digital signatures within Adobe-formatted documents. General instructions for setting up your digital signature are below.
Other Information
The DWSRF program was authorized by the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For more information on the national program, please visit these EPA websites.
- EPA Homepage
- SDWA
- DWSRF Program
- Small Systems Information and Guidance
- EPA Region 1 (New England) Drinking Water Program
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
- DWSRF Project Steps and Information
- Emergency Power Generator Program
- Environmental Reviews
- Small Loan Program
- American Iron and Steel
- Public Water System Improvement Program
- Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment
- DWSRF Annual Reports (OTT website)
- Green Project Reserve
If you have any questions, please contact us at dph.ctdwsrf@ct.gov