Source Water Protection (SWP) Learning Exchange topics:
- Accessing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds for SWP
- Creative Partnerships
- Multi Purpose Decision Support Systems for SWP Strategies
- SWP Through Conservation Funding
- Nutrient Reduction Successes
- Funding for SWP
- Forming & Sustaining Collaboratives
- Linking SWP to Emergency Preparedness
- SWP Through Forestry Partnerships
Accessing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds for SWP
This Learning Exchange is designed to help water stakeholders use the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding for source water protection. This BIL Learning Exchange:
- Highlights types of source water protection and green infrastructure projects eligible for funding
- Identifies and addresses barriers for using emerging contaminants funding for source water protection
- Develops best practices for funding mechanisms to obtain and use BIL funds, and
- Highlights case studies or example projects.
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2/8/24 – Addressing Emerging Contaminants in Source Water Using BIL Grants and Forgivable Loans
This webinar:- Introduced the large influx of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding for emerging contaminants and how this is an unprecedented opportunity for States, Territories, Tribes to invest in new source water protection projects or enhance existing source water protection plans, that will deliver long term environmental and public health benefits, particularly to small, underserved, and/or disadvantaged communities.
- Showcased the ways BIL funding can support source water protection by addressing emerging contaminants in drinking water sources.
- Featured a case study highlighting how the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services accomplished their goals in tackling PFAS with EC-SDC funding along with future project ideas for the funding.
Factsheets, Guides, and Case Studies
This factsheet is for State SRF program managers, source water professionals, and communities to best understand how the use of CWSRF and DWSRF funding and financing can be used for source water protection activities.
Factsheet: Protecting Source Water with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides Factsheet
This factsheet lays out information on how States and communities may use the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) set-asides to safeguard sources of drinking water.
Guide: CWSRF Best Practices Guide for Financing Nonpoint Source Solutions
The purpose of this guide is to share the collective wisdom from those states that have achieved success in using CWSRF funds for addressing water quality problems. This guide is designed to help state staff better align and integrate their state’s CWSRF and NPS management programs. It outlines suggested strategies and key elements needed to expand the use of the CWSRF to address priority NPS needs as specified in state NPS management program plans, and it identifies potential obstacles and how to overcome them. Lastly, the guide provides case studies of successful and innovative partnerships underway across the country.
Technical Doc: Financing Options for Nontraditional Eligibilities in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Programs
This technical document was prepared primarily as a reference for the 51 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs and EPA’s Regional Offices. The paper focuses on how varied types of financial assistance available to the CWSRF program can be deployed to fund eligibilities that do not fall within the mainstream of traditional grey infrastructure. It is intended to complement the May 2016 “Overview of Clean Water State Revolving Fund Eligibilities” paper, which includes the expansion of eligibilities in the program stemming from enactment of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), particularly in regard to nontraditional eligibilities.
Case Study: CWSRF EC Case Studies
This EPA webpage houses FAQ’s as well as case studies related to how CWSRF funding under BIL can be used for addressing emerging contaminants.
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4/10/24 – Demystifying How to Access BIL Funds for Source Water Protection and Natural Infrastructure
- Are you wondering how to access BIL funds?
- Did you know small, disadvantaged, and/or disadvantaged communities are eligible for BIL funds?
- Have you heard of Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA), but don’t know what it is?
- Want to know why Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) are important and how EFCs can help YOU?
This webinar showcased the wide array of technical assistance available to help eligible partners develop project plans and application materials to access funding for source water protection. Attendees learned how to request TA for support in accessing this unprecedented opportunity to invest in and expand source water protection programs. -
4/22/24 — Leveraging U.S. Forest Service BIL Funds for SWP on Forested Lands
The webinar covered the following topics:The webinar will cover the following topics:- Working with the U.S. Forest Service
- Forest-water partnerships and projects
- Wildfire mitigation funding
- Managing forested lands for drinking water protection
USFS staff discussed how BIL funds can be used on USFS and non-USFS lands for drinking water protection and wildfire mitigation projects. Attendees learned about the highly successful Drinking Water Providers Partnership and from the Rio Grande Water Fund, an example of a collaborative group that conserves and manages forested lands for source water protection. -
5/30/24 – Redefining “Disadvantaged Communities” in a New Water Infrastructure Era
BIL created a number of opportunities for equitable outcomes for disadvantaged communities in the financing of water infrastructure. The law now requires SRF programs to provide 49% of BIL money to disadvantaged communities as principal forgiveness loans or grants. This allows additional communities that have struggled to access water infrastructure funding to receive the support they need.This webinar will share:- how the SRF programs are given authority to determine what constitutes a “disadvantaged community” and this varies greatly across the country.
- how states have ensured their definitions bring about the most equitable outcome possible.
- the role public participation requirements had in modifying their definitions.
- challenges states have had in implementing the funding.
- what clean water advocates can do to help states achieve the most equitable process possible for source water protection in their programs.
Register for the webinar here
Additional Resources
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General
EPA’s website serves as a platform of resources related to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), including the BIL SRF memorandum on policies of EPA BIL fund management and distribution, state by state allocation for each year of BIL funds, FAQs that are updated from time to time, Factsheet on BIL eligibilities, EPA hosted webinar on all BIL funds, and more.
EPA’s memorandum outlines a strategy for collaborative implementation with state, local, and Tribal partners of $43 billion in water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA’s implementation memo highlights the flexibility provided to states and borrowers to address a wide variety of local water quality and public health challenges.