What is Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and WIFIA?
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and WIFIA are two US programs that finance water infrastructure. The DWSRF is a federal and state partnership that provides low-cost loans and other assistance to public water systems. WIFIA, the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program, offers EPA credit assistance for larger water and wastewater projects.
What it is
The DWSRF was created by the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA provides capitalization grants to states, which add a state match and lend to water systems for eligible projects. Repayments flow back into the fund, so it revolves.
WIFIA was established in 2014 and is administered directly by the EPA. It provides long-term, low-cost loans for large projects and can be combined with other funding sources.
Both programs ask applicants to describe project need and benefits, and post-project reporting may ask for results.
Who it applies to
Public water systems, municipalities and other eligible borrowers in the US. Eligibility, terms and priorities differ by state for the DWSRF and by program rules for WIFIA, so check current guidance.
What evidence it needs
Applications are stronger when the problem and the expected benefit are measured.
- Baseline water loss and network condition
- Asset data supporting the project need
- Expected benefits stated in measurable terms
- Post-project results where reporting is required
How Aqueduct helps
Aqueduct supplies the measured baseline and the verified results that applications and post-project reporting ask for. Milvian AI does not provide funding advice.
- aQ WaterGuard loss baselines per district before a project
- Asset condition records for the infrastructure in question
- Verification at the meter after the project
- aQ Assurance exports for the utility's grant and finance team