2007 Annual Report

Capacity Development Report to the Governor - 2008 (12 Pages - 200KB)

NRS (445A.200)
The laws establishing and administering the DWSRF Program

NAC (445A.6751)
Regulations outlining the requirements for applying for a DWSRF loan

Step 1
Loan Pre-application Form

 

 
Step 2
Letter of Intent Form

 

 
Environmental Information Request Form

 

 
Step 3
Loan Application Form

 

 
Loan Application for ARRA Subsidy Eligible Projects ONLY

New Documents

Go here for information about Nevada programs funded under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Final 2009 Intended Use Plan — Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (30 Pages)

Year 2008 Priority List--Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Pre-Applications

About the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

Passed by Congress in 1974 and amended in 1986 and 1996, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates the nation's public drinking water supply in order to protect public health. The Act authorizes EPA to set national health-based standards for contaminants in drinking water. Section 1452 of the 1996 SDWA Amendments authorized the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program to address the most pressing public health needs related to drinking water. The DWSRF programs are founded upon the singular focus of assisting state drinking water programs and drinking water systems in meeting their responsibility to protect public health. The goal of Congress was to establish an innovative program that would assist in providing safe drinking water by helping water systems fund infrastructure upgrades and by improving their institutional capabilities. The DWSRF also helps states undertake activities to support their drinking water programs. The federal government annually provides money for the state to loan at below-market interest rates for qualifying improvements to drinking water system infrastructure.

In addition to providing low interest loans, the DWSRF uses targeted set-aside funds to address some of the key underlying conditions that affect drinking water systems' abilities to protect public health. The DWSRF set-aside funds provide the tools to create a more sustainable drinking water sector by improving system management, enhancing the technical skills of system operators, increasing efficiency, and improving source water protection. In effect, DWSRF has the ability to address public health protection in two critical ways: by providing an accessible and affordable source of financing for necessary infrastructure improvements, and by addressing underlying issues that impact a system's institutional capabilities.

  • What are the loan terms?
  • Who is eligible?
  • What projects are eligible?
  • What projects are not eligible?
  • How do I apply for a loan?
  • Other programs funded by DWSRF

What are the loan terms?

DWSRF loans are typically for a term of 20 years. An applicant can negotiate a shorter term or the Division may extend the term to 30 years under special conditions for a disadvantaged community. A disadvantaged community is defined as an area served by a public water system in which the median household income is less than 80% of the state median household income. DWSRF interest rates vary with the bond buyers market but are below market rates. Over the eight year history of the program, interest rates have ranged from 2.81% to 4.03%.

Who is eligible?

All community water systems, whether publicly or privately owned, as well as non-profit, non-community water systems are potentially eligible to receive DWSRF funding. Water systems owned by the Federal Government are not eligible to receive DWSRF funding (NAC 445A.67561). Systems that lack the technical, financial, and managerial capability to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act are not eligible for assistance, unless the owner/operator agrees to make feasible and appropriate changes in operations to ensure compliance over the long-term. A loan cannot be used by a system solely for the purpose of expanding the water system. Water system consolidation or regionalization, however, is a fundable capital improvement project.

What kinds of projects are eligible?

Generally, projects that further health protection objectives are eligible for a low-interest loans including:

  • Rehabilitate or develop water resources to replace contaminated sources
  • Install or upgrade facilities to improve quality of water (treatment)
  • Install or upgrade storage facilities
  • Install or replace transmission or distribution pipes
  • Consolidation of water systems
  • Creation of new water system to address existing public health problems caused by unsafe drinking water provided by individual wells or surface water sources.

What kinds of projects are NOT eligible?

The following projects are not eligible for a loan from the DWSRF (NAC 445A.67563)

  • Construction or rehabilitation of a dam
  • Purchase of water rights
  • Construction or rehabilitation of reservoir except finished water reservoir or a reservoir that is part of the treatment process
  • Laboratory fees for routine monitoring
  • Operation and maintenance expenses
  • Project needed primarily for fire protection
  • Project that is primarily intended to serve future growth
  • Refinancing of a private system

How do I apply for a loan?

  1. Complete a pre-application (Step #1 form link above).


  2. Upon receipt, your pre-application is evaluated for inclusion on the next Priority List.


  3. The Board for Financing Water Projects approves the Priority List.


  4. Applicant submits a Letter of Intent Form and Environmental Information Request Form (Step #2 form link above).


  5. NDEP completes environmental review. This step can occur simultaneously with applicant completing loan application form (Item #6).


  6. Applicant submits a Loan Application Form (Step #3 form link above). Publicly owned entities are required to have their governing body approve a bond resolution. Privately owned entities are required to provide loan security or collateral.


  7. The application is reviewed.


  8. The commitment of loan funds is approved by the Board for Financing Water Projects based on NDEP's recommendation.


  9. The terms and conditions of the loan agreement are negotiated and an agreement is signed.


  10. CONSTRUCTION BEGINS!

Other Programs funded by DWSRF

COMING SOON -- information on other programs supported by DWSRF funds including assistance with technical or financial matters, operator training and more.

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