This week, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted planning and funding documents for both the clean water and drinking water state revolving fund programs for the coming year. The total potential is approximately $1.2 billion in new funding. Adopted annually, these expenditure plans (known as the “intended use plan”) provide low interest loans as well as principal forgiveness loans to communities across the state. Projects must be directly related to protecting or improving public health, water quality or both. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund intended use plan adds up to $910 million in new projects in fiscal year 20-2021. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund intended use plan has potential funding in excess of $308 million for new projects in fiscal year 20-2021.

The Board’s approved intended use plans follow state and federal funding guidelines:

  • The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund finances infrastructure improvements to reduce drinking water risks and support the human right to water. It provides funding for drinking water projects such as well rehabilitation and replacement, tank/reservoir replacement, transmission and distribution pipeline replacement, drinking water treatment for primary contaminants and water meters. There are also a few projects on source development/desalination.
     
  • The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) includes recycled water and stormwater projects and addresses wastewater discharge violations or enforcement orders issued by the regional water boards. Specifically, wastewater projects include the rehabilitation of existing facilities that treat wastewater, new wastewater treatment facilities, pump station rehabilitation and replacement and sewer pipeline rehabilitation and replacement. Recycled water projects consist of recycled water treatment facilities, pump stations, distribution systems and storage facilities. Storm water projects include projects that prevent, abate, reduce, transport, separate, store, treat, recycle, or dispose of pollutants arising or flowing in storm drainage that is transported in pipes, culverts, tunnels, ditches, wells, channels, conduits, from urban or rural areas to surface or groundwaters of the state and the reuse or disposal of storm water determined acceptable for reuse or disposal.