Environmental Loans
Clean Water & Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
Attention: The CWFP Small Loans Program is currently suspended. More information is available on the SLP webpage.
The purpose of the Environmental Loans Section is to administer affordable financial assistance to communities within Wisconsin for water infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations. Wisconsin provided over $6.2 billion in financial assistance to municipalities since State Fiscal Year 1991 through two Environmental Improvement Fund (EIF) programs.
Under the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, municipalities may receive financial assistance in the form of subsidized loans; additional subsidy to reduce the size of a loan; or a combination of assistance to keep project costs low. The programs can finance construction as it takes place; refinance interim debt used to design and construct a project; and reimburse municipal funds used for project costs.
Benefits and program features:
- Program subsidy buys down the market rate on loans (reduced-interest rate loans).
- Some municipalities may be eligible for further subsidy to reduce their loan size (principal forgiveness).
- Fixed interest rates on long-term loans (up to 30 years).
- Coordination of funds with other funding sources.
- Online submittal system for Intents to Apply and Financial Assistance Applications.
- Dedicated DNR loan project manager and construction management engineer.
Funding programs
Clean Water Fund Program
The Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP) provides financial assistance to municipalities for wastewater and storm water infrastructure projects. It includes projects for compliance with a municipality's WPDES permit.
- Priority Principal Forgiveness (Priority PF) points and criteria for regionalization, phosphorus reduction, and energy efficiency projects.
Safe Drinking Water Loan Program
The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) provides financial assistance to municipalities for drinking water infrastructure projects.
Lead Service Line Projects
Funding options for lead service line (LSL) replacements.
Pilot Projects Program
Pilot Projects Program provides a subsidy to municipalities seeking to fund water quality trading projects and other non-traditional projects (i.e., projects not related to a wastewater treatment plant upgrade) for compliance with a municipality's WPDES permit.
Other funding sources
The Wisconsin DNR Environmental Loans Section often partners with other funding agencies to ensure that municipalities get the best funding package to meet their needs. The DNR and other funding sources can collaborate to clarify the joint funding process and help with common paperwork challenges.
Eligibility
Who may apply?
Eligible applicants include Wisconsin cities, towns, villages, counties, sanitary districts and other qualifying municipalities.
How may funds be used?
The program funds are for reasonable and necessary costs directly related to the planning, design and construction of eligible projects. Funds may be used to construct, improve, modify, purchase, replace, restore and upgrade drinking water, wastewater and storm water systems and infrastructure; such as collection, conveyance, disposal, distribution, sourcing, storage, transmission and treatment. More information is found in the CWFP eligibility index and the SDWLP eligibility index.
The following are general guidelines helpful in determining whether an EIF loan would be appropriate for your project.
- The municipal wastewater project is a necessity to stay in compliance with WPDES permits or to meet new permit requirements.
- Projects constructing a new sewer system to eliminate groundwater pollution and threats to public health.
- Projects that correct public water systems that violate health standards, have contamination, are not in compliance with drinking water standards or have inadequate transmission pipes and/or storage facilities.
How to Apply
How do we apply?
Follow these steps in order to apply for funding:
- Identify and define the wastewater treatment or drinking water "problem" that needs to be corrected or prevented. This process generally involves a joint effort of the municipality, a consulting engineer, and the DNR engineer in your area.
- Pre-Application - A notice of Intent to Apply (ITA) and Priority Evaluation & Ranking Formula (PERF) must be submitted online for each project for which you will be seeking an EIF loan. The deadline for all ITAs/PERFs is October 31 for the following state fiscal year (SFY) funding cycle. For example, if you wish to apply for SFY 2024 funding (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024), the ITA/PERF deadline is October 31, 2022.
When your project score is finalized by the DNR, you will receive an email notification. Eligible projects will be placed on the Project Priority List (PPL) in priority score order.
ITAs/PERFs are only valid for one state fiscal year. If you do not go forward with submitting an application, be sure to re-submit an ITA/PERF for the following state fiscal year, if you are still pursuing funding from the EIF.
- Application - Once your project is on the Project Priority List (PPL), you may apply for funding for that state fiscal year. Refer to the documents below for more information on the application.
Next steps for applicants after PPL is published: Application Process and Contents:
Deadlines
Deadlines & due dates
The state fiscal year begins on the first day of July in each year and closes on the next following June 30 (e.g., SFY 2022 begins July 1, 2021, and ends June 30, 2022).
Note: When a deadline falls on a weekend, that deadline, by statute, is extended to Monday.
Visual aids for deadlines, due dates, and timelines:
- CWFP deadlines during SFY 2022
- SDWLP deadlines during SFY 2022
- CWFP and SDWLP deadlines & due dates during calendar years 2021-2023
Listed by deadline date
| DEADLINE | PROGRAM ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| June 30 |
|
| Sept. 30 |
|
| Oct. 31 |
|
Listed by program and type of activity
Clean Water Fund Program
| CWFP ACTIVITY | CWFP DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Intent to Apply |
|
| Application |
|
| Loan Closing |
|
Safe Drinking Water Loan Program
| SDWLP ACTIVITY | SDWLP DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Intent to Apply |
|
| Application |
|
| Loan Closing |
|
Interest rates
What are the interest rates?
Between January 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022, the DOA has set the market rate for loans up to and equal to 20 years at 2.70% and the market rate for loans exceeding 20 years and up to 30 years at 2.90%. Each loan charges interest based on the market rate in effect on the day the municipal governing body adopts the resolution approving the financing agreement. The CWFP and SDWLP provide subsidy to bring interest rates on loans down from the market rate established by DOA to the reduced interest rates described in the table shown below.
| PROJECT TYPE | % of MARKET RATE | ≤ 20 YR TERM | 21-30 YR TERM |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWFP and SDWLP For eligible projects of municipalities not meeting the financial need criteria. |
55% | 1.485% | 1.595% |
| CWFP and SDWLP For eligible projects of disadvantaged municipalities meeting the following financial need criteria:
|
33% | 0.891% | 0.957% |
| CWFP For eligible projects of extremely disadvantaged municipalities meeting the following financial need criteria:
|
0% | 0% | 0% |
| CWFP For the portion of eligible projects for receiving and storing septage, and capacity for treating septage; mercury remediation at wastewater treatment facilities; and non-traditional pilot projects, e.g. water quality trading. |
0% | 0% | 0% |
| MARKET RATE (effective 01/01/2022 thru 03/31/2022) | 100% | 2.700% | 2.900% |
Help
Program coordinators & specialists
Clean Water Fund Program contact: Lisa Bushby, CWFP coordinator
Pilot Projects Program contact: Dave Calhoon, Pilot projects specialist
Lead Service Line Replacement Program contact: Becky Scott, LSL specialist
Safe Drinking Water Loan Program contact: Matt Marcum, SDWLP interim coordinator
- Contact information
- For information on this topic, contact either Section Chief:
- Matt Marcum or Becky Scott
Disclaimer of guidance: This document is intended solely as guidance and does not contain any mandatory requirements except where requirements found in statute or administrative rule are referenced. Any regulatory decisions made by the Department of Natural Resources in any matter addressed by this guidance will be made by applying the governing statutes and administrative rules to the relevant facts. Program implementation details are outlined in the governing administrative codes and statutes: §§ 281.58 and 281.59 and 281.61, Wis. Stat., and chs. NR 162 and 166, Wis. Adm. Code.