aerial view of construction underway at the Chemung County Wastewater Treatment Plant

Clean Water State Revolving Fund

Apply for Low-Cost Financing for Wastewater and Sewer Projects. List Your Project by May 30.

List Your Project

How-To Video

Overview

$38 Billion Provided to Over 600 Projects Since 1987

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund empowers local governments and public authorities to undertake critical sewer and wastewater projects. The program offers significant financial advantages and supportive technical assistance to communities. EFC provides financing at below-market rates. Low interest rates and long repayment periods keep projects affordable. Recipients can better manage debt service and reduce the need for higher local rate increases to fund improvements.

EFC provides interest-free, subsidized, and market-rate financing. Eligible communities that qualify for hardship may receive interest-free financing. Additional subsidy may be offered as principal forgiveness or grants. Because of EFC’s AAA/Aaa credit rating, our market rate is generally lower than the rate at which a municipality would borrow on its own. The program is structured to be self-sustaining. When communities repay their financings, it allows EFC to finance new projects. The funds "revolve" over time.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

Repairing and upgrading wastewater treatment plants
Rehabilitating or installing collection sewers
Reducing or eliminating combined and sanitary sewer overflows
Protecting waterbodies from storm runoff pollution

View Our Project Impact Dashboard

INTENDED USE PLAN

Allocating Funds to Eligible Projects

An Intended Use Plan (IUP) is published annually to outline how the Clean Water State Revolving Fund will be used in a federal fiscal year. The IUP uses a competitive scoring system that determines which projects can be funded, and the type and amount of financial assistance available.

2025 Intended Use Plan

More About the IUP

HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCING

Step-By-Step Process to Access Funding

What To Do	Description & Timeline	Key Resources
Step 1 List Your Project	Listing your project on the Intended Use Plan is the first step to accessing funding. Submit listings through our online portal, the Project Listing and Update System (PLUS). Provide contact information and general project information, including a budget and schedule. While projects can be listed only with general information, an approvable engineering report and construction schedule are required to be included on the Annual List. Projects on the Annual List can apply for funding in a given federal fiscal year. Project listings and updates are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit by May for inclusion on the next federal fiscal year’s Intended Use Plan.	List your project with the Project Listing and Update System (PLUS), our online portal. Watch step-by-step guidance videos on how to use the Project Listing and Update System (PLUS) on YouTube. Our Engineering Report Outline (PDF) will ensure your project meets New York State wastewater infrastructure requirements. Learn how projects are ranked and scored in the Project Scoring Criteria (PDF). EFC's Community Assistance Teams can help at any step. See our Hardship Policy to learn whether your community qualifies for interest-free financing and other financial benefits. View our Program Guide (PDF) to learn about additional funding opportunities.
Step 2 Prepare Required Documents	The following is a summary of items you should begin working on as soon as possible. Review the comprehensive list of required documentation for more details. Environmental review documents and findings District/special district formation; increase authorization Agreement for engineering planning services Contact the State Historic Preservation Office for a determination on potential project impacts Pass a bond resolution Hire a consulting engineer if you do not have a design engineer on staff Make sure you are up to date on filing Annual Financial Reports with the Office of the State Comptroller Documents you need include, but are not limited to: Financial statements (audited if available) for the three most recent fiscal years (for applicants that are not required to submit Annual Financial Reports) Letters for grant awards or financing that is not from/through EFC Current adopted capital and operating budgets	Our Engineering Report Outline (PDF) will ensure your project meets New York State wastewater infrastructure requirements. Engineering agreements financed with the State Revolving Fund must contain the Mandatory Terms & Conditions and procured in accordance with federal requirements. Assess the environmental impact of your project using the State Environmental Quality Review Handbook. Work with the State Historic Preservation Office to obtain historic preservation documentation. If needed, obtain approval from the Office of the State Comptroller for special improvement district formation or expansion. Identify impacts to Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Communities using the DECinfo Locator
Step 3 Submit a Formal Financing Application	Submit a financing application and supporting documentation through the online portal. NOTE: Only projects on the Intended Use Plan’s Annual List can apply for financing. Once you submit a financing application, EFC works with you to identify financial assistance for your project. EFC will determine the appropriate term and type of assistance that may be offered. This will be based on a credit review, the project’s score and rank, and construction schedule. Financing packages may include one or more funding options. Eligible projects may receive additional subsidy as principal forgiveness or grants. Submit your financing application as soon as possible to ensure funds are available to meet your needs. It may take several months between submission of the application and execution of the financing agreement. Financing applications are accepted year-round but generally must be submitted by the end of May to lock in eligibility for the upcoming federal fiscal year.	Submit your application through our online portal.