The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1996 allows states to establish a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program to assist community and non-profit, non-community public water systems (PWS) in financing infrastructure improvements. Many PWSs find it difficult to obtain affordable financing for infrastructure improvements needed to achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements and to protect public health.
Recognizing this fact, Congress established the DWSRF to provide States with a financing mechanism for ensuring safe drinking water to the public. Loans made under the program can have interest rates between 0 percent and market rate and repayment terms of up to 20 years. The program is structured such that the loan repayments will provide a revolving source of infrastructure financing into the next century. The program also places an emphasis on small and disadvantaged communities and on programs that emphasize prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water. Typically, many small PWSs often find it difficult to obtain favorable interest rates when applying for loans to make water system improvements. Therefore, the SDWA amendments target small systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons for special consideration by the DWSRF program. Connecticut provides a minimum of 15% of the available funds for loans to these systems. Community PWSs whose population falls within the small (less than 1,000 persons served) and medium (between 1,001 and 10,000 persons served) categories are strongly encouraged to apply.
While it is important to take care of the infrastructure needs facing PWSs now, it is equally important for water systems to establish technical, financial and managerial capacity development programs to achieve sustainability and prevent drinking water problems in the future. The Drinking Water Section’s DWSRF program places a strong emphasis on preventing contamination problems through source water protection and encourages better system operations through enhanced water systems management. Asset management programs allow water systems to properly plan capital improvement projects, establish an annual budget that takes into account infrastructure depreciation, and help to effectively communicate the need for water rate adjustments with their customers, regulating agencies and elected officials. Managers need to be aware of all the new regulations that are in the pipeline and understand how they will affect their water system financially and operationally.
These are some of the many capacity development initiatives, promoted by the DWSRF program, that are critical for PWSs to achieve long term sustainability. Please refer to the following links for more information on the DWSRF program:
Call for Projects
A Call for Projects notice was issued by the Drinking Water Section (DWS) to all Community water systems and all Non-Profit Non-Community water systems. Interested parties that are unable to print the Eligibility Application are to contact the DWS and ask to have an DWSRF Eligibility Application forwarded to them.
Public Hearing/Open Forum:
In conformance with the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104-182), the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program Guidelines, the requirements of Title 40, Part 25, Code of Regulations in the Federal Register, Volume 44, February 16, 1979 and pursuant to Sections 22a-478(h) and 22a-482 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Sections 22a482-1 (c)(4) of the Regulations, Connecticut State Agencies, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) will hold a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed final priority list of projects eligible for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loans for every Federal Fiscal Year. The Public Hearing/Open Forum for FFY 2009 has not yet been scheduled.
Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment - Third Report to Congress
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conduct an assessment of the national public water system capital improvement needs every four years. The purpose of the survey is to document the 20-year capital investment needs of public water systems that are eligible to receive Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) monies. The survey reports infrastructure needs that are required to protect public health, such as projects to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
The total needs reported in this, the third survey, which was released in June 2005, were $276.8 billion. As directed by the SDWA, EPA uses the results of the survey to determine the allocation of the hundreds of million of annual DWSRF dollars to the States and Tribes for helping build and improve the Nation’s infrastructure for delivering safe drinking water.
For more information visit: www.epa.gov/safewater/needs.html
Project Information
Qualifications Based Selection Requirement - Read on for Assistance
Applicant’s applying for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans are required to follow the Qualifications Based Selection, or QBS process.
QBS is an objective and fair process used to select architects, engineers and land surveyors based on the design professional’s qualifications in relation to the project. Selecting design professionals is one of the keys to a successful project. The design will determine, among other things, the cost of the project.
The Connecticut QBS Council offers assistance to the public in implementing a QBS Program. They provide helpful guides and forms as well as services of a knowledgeable facilitator at no cost to the owner.
To learn more about the Connecticut QBS Council and the QBS process click here: www.ctqbs.org
Staff Review and Ranking of Projects
Staff reviews application for completeness and eligibility. Points are assigned based on the:
Project Review Forms
