Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is sponsored by Washington State Department of Health (funded through federal and state money). This program makes funds available to drinking water systems to pay for infrastructure improvements.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) | Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) makes funds available to drinking water systems to pay for infrastructure improvements. This program is funded through federal and state money and subject to state laws and additional federal regulations.

Free Technical Assistance opportunities are available to help communities meet their regulatory obligations and develop the system plans and infrastructure projects necessary to ensure the provision of safe and reliable drinking water. We help water system staff understand program details and requirements to ensure success in gaining program funding for infrastructure projects.

Online Technical Assistance Request Form The DWSRF program provides: Planning and Engineering loans to cover preconstruction work and activities such as water system plans, engineering designs, and cultural reviews. Planning Grants for small water systems to create, update, or amend a Small Water System Management Program (SWSMP) or Water System Plan (WSP).

Some planning grants are specifically for small or disadvantaged community water systems. These systems have emerging contaminants in their source or water systems. The grant provides consolidation opportunities that stem from contamination due to emerging contaminants.

Consolidation, Restructuring, and Regionalization funding has several options. Consolidation Feasibility Study grants allow larger Group A community water systems such as cities, town, counties, public utility districts, water districts, and federally recognized tribes to determine feasibility and capital improvements needed to consolidate smaller or struggling water systems into their service area.

Drinking Water System Rehabilitation and Consolidation grants are available to water systems invited to apply after coordination with ODW staff. Approved projects can include efforts to rehabilitate an existing system to meet compliance regulations and for larger, well-run water systems to acquire and upgrade struggling or failing water systems.

Emerging Contaminants for Small and Disadvantaged Communities grant funding for long-term well remediation for Group A water systems. Consolidation funding for Group A community water systems that acquire and connect properties served by Group B water systems, and smaller Group A water systems. We also make funding available for short-term mitigation for Group A and Group B systems.

Low-interest construction loans to publicly (municipal) and privately owned drinking water systems. These loans cover capital improvements that increase public health and compliance with drinking water regulations. Construction Loan repayments range from 20 to 30 years.

In some cases, partial loan forgiveness is offered. Lead Service Line loans cover work to complete the inventory, update any inventories with unknowns, or replace lead service lines and service line components. Alternative Drinking Water Program assists private and Group B well users impacted by contamination to provide access to safe drinking water.

Funding is intended to be used by a Local Health Jurisdiction or community organization and is provided through contracts using a reimbursement model. Source Water Protection Grant After You Are Approved for Funding Asset Management Training As you consider the challenges that you are seeking to address in a community or public water system, please be aware that there are many federal requirements for loans and grants from DWSRF.

Requirements include completion of cultural and environmental reviews, SEPA, Davis Bacon Act, Build America Buy America, American Iron and Steel, loan management, construction management, and others. We are hosting a series of meetings to highlight updates to our program guidelines that are applicable to the funding cycle that closes November 30, 2026. The guidelines are open for comment through October 1, 2026.

The webinars highlight the DWSRF application process and various funding sources and programs. Each webinar includes a question-and-answer process to address any concerns you may have. Webinars are hosted on Microsoft Teams so that you can attend remotely.

Wednesday, August 19, 8:30 a. m. to noon.

Click here to join the meeting . Meeting ID: 224 903 373 054 967 Wednesday, September 9, 8:30 a. m.

to noon. Click here to join the meeting . Meeting ID: 298 302 044 332 006 Wednesday, October 14, 8:30 a.

m. to noon. Click here to join the meeting .

Meeting ID: 259 598 223 372 713 2026 Webinar Presentations Funding Webinar Q&A 331-793 (PDF) Cultural-Environmental Review (PDF) Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant (PDF) Free Technical Assistance (PDF) Funding Good Scopes of Work (PDF) Washington Loan Tracking Tool (PDF) Each year, we develop a project priority list identifying the funded applications received during the previous application cycle.

In compliance with state law, we send the list to the Public Works Board and state legislature by February 1 of each year. The list is used to identify funded projects or projects to be funded between July 1 and June 30 of the following year. We include the projects in the Intended Use Plan (IUP) that accompanies the grant application submitted to be eligible for that year’s program funding.

The plan informs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of how we will use the funding for project implementation and program administration. The state then receives federal funding from EPA each year in the form of capitalization grants. We use these grants to fund the drinking water program, planning for and constructing infrastructure.

The IUP is published by May 1 of every year to provide those interested the ability to comment on included projects and proposed program activities. State Fiscal Year 2026 Memo and Project Priority List (PDF) 2026 Intended Use Plan (PDF) 2025 DWSRF Intended Use Plan 331-722-2025 (PDF) DWSRF 2025 Annual Report 331-737 (PDF) Draft Guidelines for Comment We published updated draft guidelines for several programs.

Construction and LSL Loan Guidelines 331-196 (PDF). Planning and Engineering Loan Guidelines 331-537 (PDF). Emergency Loan and Funding Guidelines 331-545 (PDF) .

Consolidation Feasibility Grant (CFG) Program 331-726 (PDF) . Drinking Water System Rehabilitation and Consolidation Guidance 331-742 (PDF) . EC-SDC Grant Guidelines 331-765 (PDF) .

We will accept comments on the guidelines through October 1, 2026. The guidelines are applicable to applications received during the current construction application cycle as well as for any PE, CFG, or DWSRC project applications received after finalization of the guideline updates. Please provide any comments to dwsrf@doh.

wa. gov and copy Chris. Pettit@doh.

wa. gov . How to Apply for DWSRF Funding Please refer to the Washington Loan Tracking External User Guide 331-614 (PDF) for screen shots of registration and navigation through our application portal.

Secure Access Washington (SAW) is the state portal for a variety of applications, including the Washington Loan Tracking (WALT) application. Each contract for an application needs to have their own SAW account with login and password. To register WALT and apply for funding: Create a profile in Secure Access Washington (SAW).

Click "Add a New Service." Navigate by agency to Department of Health's directory. Scroll to the bottom and find Washington Loan Tracking (WALT) or use keywords and click, "Apply."

You will receive a pop-up notification and an email asking you to verify your information. Contact DWSRF@doh. wa.

gov or call 360-867-3991 for us to add missing information and grant you access. For WALT Pre-registration and other user help, please email DWSRF@doh. wa.

gov or call Jason Cammarano at 360-867-3991. Bidding and Procurement Assistance We created resources to help small water systems understand and complete the bidding and procurement steps required for DWSRF funding. We provide free technical assistance to eligible public water systems.

We focus on systems serving fewer than 10,000 customers, especially those in rural or disadvantaged communities that are applying for or receiving DWSRF funding. To request help with bidding or purchasing, please submit a Technical Assistance Request form . The resources below provide additional guidance on the bidding and procurement process.

Request for Proposal Template Construction Contracts Roadmap Request for Proposal Scoring Notice of Award to Proceed Construction Contacts Checklist Professional Services Checklist RFP Evaluation Committee Attendance Report Professional Roadmap Checklist Request for Proposal Cheat Sheet Free Technical Assistance Through DWSRF Through EPA set-asides, DWSRF maintains technical assistance contracts with several providers who can help water systems build technical, managerial, and financial capacity for the purpose of becoming eligible for and successfully receiving DWSRF funding.

Technical assistance is assigned by DOH and offered for free to select public water systems. Assistance is typically prioritized to systems that serve less than 10,000 in rural, or disadvantaged communities. Examples of technical assistance include: Lead Service Line Inventory.

Planning and Engineering (such as water system plans, small water system management programs, designs, bid documents and assessments). DWSRF eligibility and application assistance. Managerial development (such as needs assessment, governance documents, and leadership development).

Financial management (such as rate structuring, finance planning, asset management, credit worthiness, and income surveys). Technical help and training (such as addressing compliance issues, and operator) certification. Fill out the online Technical Assistance Request Form .

Read our Technical Assistance Flyer 331-792 (PDF) If you have questions about technical assistance or need help with the request form, please email DWSRF@doh. wa. gov .

Under federal law, we must allocate a percentage of DWSRF funding and loan subsidy (in the form of principal forgiveness) to projects serving disadvantaged communities (DACs). We update annually the criteria used to determine if a project serves a DAC and how we distribute subsidy in in Appendix B of our Construction and LSL Loan Guidelines 331-196 (PDF) . We identify DACs by census tract.

Maximum subsidy percentages vary by program and depend on the number of applicants, types of projects, and the availability of funding each year. Projects addressing lead service lines and emerging contaminants may be eligible for up to 100 percent subsidy. We outline subsidy guidelines in Construction and LSL Loan Guidelines 331-196 (PDF) under the "Subsidy" section.

We developed a mapping tool based on current DAC criteria to assist systems in developing an initial understanding of whether a project may qualify as serving a DAC. Projects identified as serving DACs are eligible for additional subsidy through DWSRF, but we do not guarantee we will fund a project or that we will award loan principal forgiveness.

When a water system service area spans multiple census tracts with differing DAC status, the applicant is responsible for identifying where the project area is. Final DAC determination is made at the time of DWSRF project review. Explore the Disadvantaged Community Map Disadvantaged Community Guidance 331-753 (PDF) For questions about disadvantaged community criteria or assistance with the mapping tool please contact DWSRF@doh.

wa. gov . Planning and Engineering Loans and Grants: Ongoing Recent changes update and clarify: Application review process.

Availability of 100 percent planning grants to address systems in, or heading to, receivership and consolidation. Consolidating and receiving water systems must have a population over 500 unless approved by DWSRF staff. Examples of quality Scopes of Work to increase quality of submittals.

We accept Planning and Engineering Loan and Grant applications year-round. We will fund eligible projects on a first-come basis until funding is exhausted. We provide the following guidelines, fact sheets, application worksheets, and webinar presentations for your information.

Grants may be available based on the conditions of a particular funding opportunity, disadvantaged community status, affordability, public health need, and available funding.

Planning and Engineering Loan Guidelines 331-537 (PDF) Planning and Engineering Loan Application Worksheet 331-665 (Word) DAHP EZ1 Project Review Form Preconstruction Loan Fact Sheet 331-664 (PDF) Consolidations, Restructuring, and Regionalization: Ongoing Recent changes update and clarify: Application timeframe and process. Connection fee project language. Emphasize detailed scopes of work with clearly defined outcomes.

If you are interested in consolidation, restructuring (change of ownership), or regionalization (CRR), please contact your regional engineer or regional planner. The receiving water system must be the applicant for any funding requested. Consolidation is physically connecting water systems.

Restructuring is changing the ownership of the water system. Regionalization is sharing resources such as personnel, equipment, and services. We accept applications for the Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant year-round.

Applicants must be a city, town, county, public utility district, water district, non-profit community water system, or an approved Satellite Management Agency.

Guidelines and documents used to complete the application include: Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant Guidelines 331-726 (PDF) Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant Appendix A 331-726-A Worksheet (Word) During the 2023 Legislative Session, the Washington State Legislature appropriated $5 million for consolidating, restructuring, and rehabilitating struggling and/or failing Public Water Systems (PWS).

Over $2 million of the appropriated funds were targeted for specific projects and the remainder of the funds were directed to projects supporting struggling and failing systems and communities. Projects will be selected by DWSRF Program staff. We will ask selected projects to submit an online application through WALT.

Contact your regional engineer if you have a project to propose. Guidance on how projects are selected, who are eligible applicants, and how to submit an application is provided in Drinking Water System Rehabilitation and Consolidation Guidance 331-742 (PDF) . Other funding for CRR include Planning Grants, Emerging Contaminants for Small and Disadvantaged Community Grants, Planning and Engineering Loans, and Construction Loans.

Construction and Lead Service Line Loans: November 30 Each Year This is the final application cycle for BIL funding. We are maintaining DAC criteria and subsidy prioritization for the final year of BIL funding. However, we will provide potential alternative criteria for comment that will help us update next year's guidelines.

The alternative criteria consists of: Updates the Environmental Health Disparities Map to include 2020 census data, while maintaining eligibility at 7+. Eliminates the use of the Social Vulnerability Index, which was not maintained by DOH and used outdated 2010 census data. Updates the economic hardship criteria to use 25 percent of the population living at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty rate as the eligibility criteria.

Updates the Cultural and Environmental review sections and updates links to the CE website. Estimate of $120 million available for the upcoming application cycle with up to $12 million available per jurisdiction. Clarify the requirement that an applicant must have an asset management program at time of application or must develop one as part of the project.

Clarify that American Iron and Steel requirements apply to all DWSRF projects regardless of funding source. Clarify detail expected for project scopes of work that are submitted as part of the application. Scopes of work lacking proper detail will not be eligible for project consideration.

Only complete applications with the required information are eligible for funding. Re-emphasize that all funded projects are required to have approved construction and bid documents, as well as cultural and environmental approvals prior to issuing a Notice to Proceed. Funding applications are open year-round.

We will not score applications for Lead Service Line Loans and Construction Loans until after November 30 and must comply with the guidelines to be published by July 31 this year . The applicant is responsible for updating the application as needed to be eligible for funding. The documents below are available for this year's funding cycle.

You must select "Lead Service Line Loan" in WALT to be considered for this loan. Service line inventories were due in 2024 . All community and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems must develop a service line inventory.

More information is located on our Lead Service Line Inventory—EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions webpage.

Construction and LSL Loan Guidelines 331-196 (PDF) Construction Loan Application Worksheet 331-762 (Word) Lead Service Line Loan Application Worksheet 331-716 (Word) DAHP EZ1 Project Review Form Construction Loan Overview 331-630 (PDF) [includes LSL loans] 2022 Contract Training Presentation (PDF) Emerging Contaminants in Small and Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Funding for short-term mitigation for Group A public water systems is available during the first year of funding.

Funding for Group B and private wells may be available in future years. Short-term mitigation includes the provision of filters for use in individual homes. Funding can pay for PFAS mitigation such as drilling a new well, consolidating with a water system that has an uncontaminated source or has treatment installed, or to design and install treatment on a Group A source.

Read the EC-SDC Grant Guidelines 331-765 (PDF) to understand this program's requirements. Learn about eligibility in the EC-SDC Grant Program 331-769 (PDF) two-page fact sheet, also available in Spanish 331-769 (PDF) . New grant program and guidelines.

Maximum award is $500,000. Review by ODW Innovative Tech Team. Two-year project completion date.

Source Water Protection Grant—Ongoing Source Water Protection Local Assistance Grant Program webpage . Recent changes update and clarify: First update since 2022; links and references. Remove receivership projects as being eligible for emergency loan funding.

DWSRF and fiscal staff information. Emphasized the need for an intervening event that causes the emergency What entities can declare emergencies and update sample declarations SAM.

gov process to receive applicant UEI Appeal process if an application is denied Cultural and environmental review process to reference updated Executive Orders Group A not-for-profit water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people can apply for a loan of up to $500,000 to cover emergency recovery activities.

DWSRF program guidelines allow states to use funds from this program for recovery activities related to emergencies, such as drought and wildfires. This loan program will ensure we are ready and able to award loans to water systems that may be in violation of health and safety standards due to an emergency.

Systems can use the funds for construction, reconstruction, replacement, rehabilitation, temporary repair, generator or treatment equipment rentals, or improvement needed to continue or restore drinking water service. Read the DWSRF Emergency Guidelines 331-545 (PDF) to understand the requirements for this program and gather necessary documentation.

When ready, you can apply using the DWSRF Emergency Loan Application Form 331-542-F (Word) . You must submit the document to DWSRF@doh. wa.

gov as the application is not available through WALT. Drinking Water System Rehabilitation and Consolidation (DWSRC) Recent changes update and clarify: Terminology and language regarding TMF capacity and the ability to incorporate. Require consolidating systems to be greater than 500 population unless approved by DWSRF staff.

After You are Approved for Funding Environmental Review and Cultural Review All federally funded infrastructure projects must undergo both an environmental and a cultural review . These identify and analyze potential impacts a project might have on environmental, historical, and cultural resources. If your project is funded, refer to the DWSRF Customer Loan Handbook 331-586 (PDF) for your next steps.

WALT Organization Billing Contact Form 331-752 (Word) Asset Management Spreadsheet In order to assist you with your asset management inventory, Rural Communities Assistance Corporation (RCAC) developed an asset management template for use by water systems. Bonus points are available for completing the asset inventory when applying for a Construction Loan. Asset Management training counts toward bonus points on your DWSRF application.

Rural Communities Assistance Corporation (RCAC) offers free online and in-person classes. Look for Asset Management training on their calendar. Narrow your search on the right menu of the calendar to “Free WA Drinking Water Workshops.

” Mail and physical addresses Program manager — Chris Pettit 564-233-1408 Applications and general questions — DWSRF@DOH. WA. GOV or Jason Cammarano 360-867-3991 Cultural and environmental review — Scott Kugel 360-480-7617 Scope of work, eligibility, and general funding — Jocelyne Gray 564-669-4893 Technical assistance requests — DWSRF@DOH.

WA. GOV Technical Assistance Coordinator — Sam Delmer 360-688-0610 EC-SDC Grant Program Administrator — Tara Moore 564-263-0483 Alternative Drinking Water Program Lead — Sarita Pruess 564-233-9512 Underwriting — Mike Copeland 360-236-3083 Contracting — Eloise Rudolph 360-236-3124 Contracting — Brittany Cody-Pinkney 360-236-3047 Contracting — Rachel Paris 360-236-4294 Invoicing and payments — Steve Lomnicki or DWSRFInvoicing@doh. wa.

gov Rural Community Assistance Corporation | Free Training Calendar Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council Environmental Protection Agency Assistance, Coordination and Sync – Washington State Department of Commerce Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map Consolidation Feasibility Study Grant Guidelines 331-726 (PDF) Planning and Engineering Loan Guidelines 331-537 (PDF) Construction and LSL Loan Guidelines 331-196 (PDF) Drinking Water System Rehabilitation and Consolidation Guidance 331-742 (PDF) EC-SDC Grant Guidelines 331-765 (PDF)