Municipal Wastewater Grants and SRF Loans
This grant funds Maine communities to plan, design, and construct wastewater infrastructure projects that improve water quality and address pollution, including issues like septic failures, CSOs, and emerging contaminants.
Funder: Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates: April 17, 2026: CWSRF application submission deadline (5:00 PM) for FFY2026 CWSRF funding requests / Information Request forms | July 6, 2026: Small Community Grant (SCG) complete application submission deadline to be considered for initial 2026 funding
Funding Amounts: CWSRF: ~$77M total for 2026 (loans/grants, with principal forgiveness portions); SCG: covers 25–100% of eligible costs based on need; State grants: up to 80% of construction costs.
Summary: Supports Maine communities and local entities in planning, designing, and constructing wastewater infrastructure to improve water quality.
Key Information: Funding includes both loans (CWSRF) and grants (SCG, State); eligibility and match requirements vary by program.
Description
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection administers several programs to assist municipalities, quasi-municipal entities, and eligible nonprofits with wastewater infrastructure projects. These include the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for low-interest loans (with some principal forgiveness), the State Municipal Wastewater Grant Program, and the Small Community Grant (SCG) Program for septic system replacement in small towns. Projects supported range from planning and design to construction of treatment plants, sewer systems, stormwater management, and pollution abatement. The programs aim to protect public health, improve water quality, and address issues such as malfunctioning septic systems, combined sewer overflows, and emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS).
