Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program supports North Carolina local governments and nonprofit utilities with clean water infrastructure financing to improve water quality and resilience.
Funder: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Due Dates: January 11, 2027 (Rolling cut-off, subject to change) | March 1, 2027 (Rolling cut-off, subject to change) | Rolling (PFAS studies and decentralized wastewater pilot)
Funding Amounts: Up to $35 million in loans per applicant per funding round, with limited principal forgiveness
Summary: Finances North Carolina wastewater infrastructure, stormwater controls, stream restoration, reclaimed water, and energy efficiency projects.
Key Information: All loans require Local Government Commission approval and a 2% closing fee that cannot be financed.
Description
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), administered by North Carolina DEQ’s Division of Water Infrastructure, provides low-interest financing for clean water infrastructure. Established through the 1987 amendments to the federal Clean Water Act, it supports wastewater treatment and collection, reclaimed water, stormwater best management practices, stream restoration, and energy efficiency at treatment works or collection systems. Loan repayments return to the fund to finance further projects.
The program targets systems with the greatest needs and projects offering significant water quality benefits. Priorities include replacing failing infrastructure, consolidating nonviable systems, serving disadvantaged areas, reducing nonpoint source pollution, and improving resilience. Financing includes limited principal forgiveness and targeted interest rates. Separate rolling applications support PFAS evaluation/assessment studies and the decentralized wastewater treatment system pilot.
