creating wisconsin jobs & rebuilding our water infrastructure

>>> Helps put Wisconsinites to work rebuilding the state’s water infrastructure – Wisconsin will be receiving a $142.7 million federal investment to fund water infrastructure improvements

>>> Provides $15.4 million in funding to help Wisconsin communities address toxic PFAS chemicals

>>> Invests $48.1 million to replace lead pipe service lines across Wisconsin in order to protect the health of families and communities

1) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund ($11.7 billion) – The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program helps ensure safe drinking water for communities of all sizes. Through this program, EPA provides funding to states so that they may provide grants and low-interest loans to eligible entities for drinking water infrastructure projects.

•Funding Type: Of this funding, the state must use 49% for grants or principal forgiveness loans and 51% for subsidized loans.

•Use of Funds: Six categories of drinking water system projects are eligible to receive assistance – treatment, transmission and distribution, source, storage, consolidation, and creation of new systems.

•Eligible Applicants: Existing privately owned and publicly owned community water systems, existing non-profit non-community water systems, and new community water systems that represent cost-effective solutions to existing public health problems.

>A community water system is a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents of the area served by the system or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. A community water system may be privately or publicly owned.

>A non-profit non-community water system is a public water system that is not a community water system and is owned and operated as a non-profit entity such as a school. The nonprofit entity could be government owned.

>Applying: To learn more about clean water and drinking water funds through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources click here.

2) Clean Water State Revolving Fund ($11.7 billion) – The Clean Water State Revolving Fund provides critical funds to repair crumbling wastewater infrastructure. Billions of gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater enter our waterways every year from aging wastewater systems. These releases threaten public health, environmental quality, and economic growth. This program provides funding to stop the release of untreated sewage into our freshwater resources and is essential to the long-term health and wellbeing of communities across Wisconsin.

•Funding Type: Of this funding, the state must use 49% for grants or principal forgiveness loans and 51% for subsidized loans.

•Use of Funds: Eleven types of projects are eligible to receive assistance –construction of publicly owned treatment works; nonpoint source; national estuary program projects; decentralized wastewater treatment systems; stormwater; water conservation, efficiency, and reuse; watershed pilot projects; energy efficiency; water reuse; security measures at publicly owned treatment works; and technical assistance.

•Eligible Applicants: The program provides financial assistance to a range of eligible recipients, though primarily the program has focused on wastewater treatment works owned by municipalities.

•Applying: To learn more about clean water and drinking water funds through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources click here.

1) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – Passed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds delivered $350 billion directly to state, local, and Tribal governments to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. On January 6, 2022, the Department of the Treasury released a final rule adding additional eligible water and sewer infrastructure investments, including a broader range of lead remediation and stormwater-management projects.

•Funding Type: Funds are allocated to state, local, and Tribal governments. Information regarding allocations and allocation methodology can be found here.

•Use of Funds: Recipients may fund a broad range of water and sewer projects, including those eligible under the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and certain additional projects, including a wide set of lead remediation, stormwater infrastructure, and aid for private wells and septic units.

•Deadline: Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024, and expended by December 31, 2026.

•Additional Details: The Department of the Treasury’s final rule implementing the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds can be found HERE, and an overview of the final rule can be found here.

2) Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program – This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses. Good practices can save tax dollars, improve the natural environment, and help manufacturers and businesses to locate or expand operations.

•Use of Funds: Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of:

•Eligibility: This program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include:

•Applying: Applications are accepted year-round and may be filed electronically using RD Apply. The RD Apply Customer Help Guide is provided to help you get started and work through the application process. Applications are also accepted through your local RD office.

1) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – Emerging Contaminants ($4 billion) – Over the next five years, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide $4 billion to states to address PFAS contamination in drinking water.

•Eligible Applicants: Existing privately owned and publicly owned community water systems, existing nonprofit non-community water systems, and new community water systems that represent cost-effective solutions to existing public health problems.

•Applying: Deadline TBD. Continue to check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Water and Wastewater Funding Sources page for updates.

2) Clean Water State Revolving Fund – Emerging Contaminants ($1 billion) – Over the next five years, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide $1 billion to states to address PFAS contamination in wastewater and stormwater systems.

•Eligible Applicants: The program provides financial assistance to a range of eligible recipients, though primarily the program has focused on wastewater treatment works owned by municipalities.

•Applying: Deadline TBD. Continue to check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Water and Wastewater Funding Sources page for updates.

3) Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program – Emerging Contaminants ($5 billion) – Over the next five years, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide $5 billion to states to address emerging contaminants like PFAS in small and disadvantaged communities.

•Eligible Applicants: Public water systems, tribal water systems, and states on behalf of an underserved community – i.e., one that has an inadequate system for obtaining drinking water.

•Applying: Deadline TBD. Continue to check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Water and Wastewater Funding Sources page for updates.

Lead Service Line Replacement ($15 billion) – We must replace each and every lead pipe, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides help for our local communities to replace lead service lines.

•Funding type: Of this funding, the state must use 49% for grants or principal forgiveness loans and 51% for subsidized loans.

•Eligible Applicants: Existing privately owned and publicly owned community water systems, existing nonprofit non-community water systems, and new community water systems that represent cost-effective solutions to existing public health problems.

•Applying: Deadline TBD. Continue to check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Water and Wastewater Funding Sources page for updates.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) ($1 billion) – The Great Lakes are vital economic and recreational assets in Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative plays a pivotal role in protecting this resource for generations to come. Senator Baldwin, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, has long championed making stronger, long-term investments in GLRI.

The Initiative funds vital efforts to stop the spread of invasive carp and other species, restore coastline, clean up beaches, remove toxins from our lakes, and prevent future contamination. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $1 billion in funding in addition to annual funding allotments – the largest single investment in program history.

•Funding Type: Competitive grants, capacity-building grants, fund transfers, and interagency agreements.

•Use of Funds: Projects must support at least one of the following focus areas: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern, Invasive Species, Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health, Habitat and Species, or Foundations for Future Restoration Actions.

•Eligible Applicants: States, tribes, local governments, universities, and nongovernmental organizations.

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