Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

Apply for Low-Interest Financing for Drinking Water Projects.

Overview $10.6 Billion Provided to Over 1,200 Projects Since 1996

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund empowers local governments and public authorities to undertake critical drinking water projects. The program offers significant financial advantages and supportive technical assistance to communities.

The program is jointly administered by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and EFC. DOH provides regulatory review of design plans and specifications. EFC administers the financial and legal aspects.

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:

  • Construction of new and/or rehabilitation of treatment facilities, transmission and distribution mains, storage facilities including finished water reservoirs, interconnections, pumping stations, and drinking water sources
  • Consolidation of water supply services, particularly in circumstances where individual homes or water systems generally have an inadequate quantity of water, the water supply is contaminated, or the system is unable to maintain adequate compliance for financial or managerial reasons
  • Capital investments made to improve the security of drinking water systems
  • The purchase of a portion of another system if the purchase is part of a consolidation plan to bring the system(s) into compliance

Intended Use Plan Allocating Funds to Eligible Projects

An Intended Use Plan (IUP) is published annually to outline how the Drinking 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. The Department of Health prepares the Intended Use Plan and accepts project listings for drinking water projects. These documents are available on the Department of Health website.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCING Step-By-Step Process to Access Funding

What To DoDescription & TimelineKey Resources

Step 1

List Your Project

Listing your project on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan is the first step to accessing funding. The New York State Department of Health accepts listings for drinking water projects. The project listing form is available on DOH’s website. 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.

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

Step 3

Submit a Formal Financing Application

Submit a financing application and supporting documentation through the online portal. NOTE: Only projects on the Department of Health 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.