Funding Database: Water Infrastructure Finance

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, established in 2014, provides low-cost supplemental loans to support long-term projects aimed at strengthening the regionally and nationally significant water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Eligible Applicants

• Local, state and tribal governments
• Partnerships and joint ventures
• Corporations and trusts
• Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs

Eligible Projects

WIFIA provides loans for a diverse range of water infrastructure projects, many of which make water systems more resilient to climate hazards. Example development and implementation activities include:

• Wastewater conveyance and treatment projects
• Drinking water treatment and distribution projects
• Enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities
• Desalination, aquifer recharge and water recycling projects
• Drought prevention, reduction and mitigation projects
• Acquisition of property if it is integral to the project or will mitigate the environmental impact of a project
• A combination of eligible projects secured by a common security pledge or submitted under one application by a SRF program

The program offers loans for development phase activities, including planning, preliminary engineering, design, environmental review, revenue forecasting and other pre-construction activities. WIFIA also offers loans for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and replacement projects. at.

Funding Amount

• $5 million is the minimum project size for small communities (population of 25,000 or less).
• $20 million is the minimum project size for large communities (population greater than 25,000).
• The maximum final maturity date is 35 years from substantial completion.
• Interest rates will be equal or greater to the US Treasury rate of a similar maturity.
• Loan repayment may be deferred up to five years following project completion.

Match Requirements

WIFIA loans cover up to 49% of a project’s total cost. Total federal assistance may not exceed 80% of a project’s eligible costs.

Application Schedule

Funding is available on a rolling basis. EPA publishes Notices of Funding Availability on the WIFIA program funding availability page each fiscal year. If EPA approves a letter of interest, prospective borrowers have up to one year following their invitation to submit a full application.

Application Process

Prospective borrows can submit letters of interest on a rolling basis from the date listed in current Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) until the earlier of (i) the commitment of all available funding made available for that round and (ii) publication of a subsequent notice cancelling or overriding the current NOFA. All application forms and instructions are found on the How to Apply page.

Application Assistance

After reviewing the program webpages, contact WIFIA staff with any application questions at WIFIA@epa.gov.

Funding Source

This funding is provided by the EPA through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014.