Hot Topic: Water Restoration Assistance

The Division of Water Restoration Assistance is responsible for providing financial assistance through a number of programs for improvements in water quality and quantity.

State Revolving Fund Loan Program

The State Revolving Fund (SRF) includes the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Both programs are funded through money received from federal grants as well as state contributions. These funds then "revolve" through the repayment of previous loans and interest earned. While these programs offer loans, grant-like funding is also available for qualified small, disadvantaged communities, which reduces the amount owed on loans by the percentage that the community qualifies.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (for stormwater and wastewater projects) provides low-interest loans to local governments to plan, design, and build or upgrade wastewater, reuse, stormwater, and nonpoint source pollution prevention projects. Agricultural best management practices as well as clean energy projects that benefit water quality may also qualify for funding. Interest rates on loans are below market rates and vary based on a community’s economic means. Small communities are eligible for principal forgiveness or grants for projects funded by a CWSRF loan if the community has a population of 10,000 people or fewer and per capita income levels below Florida’s average. Projects must be associated with wastewater collection, transmission, treatment, reuse or disposal facilities. Applications for loans and grants are accepted year-round and are evaluated for funding each August and quarterly thereafter as long as funds remain available.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provides low-interest loans to local governments and private utilities to plan, design, and build or upgrade drinking water systems. Discounted assistance and principal forgiveness are available for qualified communities. Interest rates on loans are typically 40% below market rates. Applications for loans are accepted year-round and are evaluated for funding each August and quarterly thereafter as long as funds remain available.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Funds

Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Funds include State-Water Quality Assistance Grants (SWAG), used to implement eligible shovel-ready stormwater treatment projects that reduce or eliminate nonpoint source nutrient pollution in verified impaired waterbodies; and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, used to implement nonpoint source best management practices, public education programs to prevent pollution, and septic abandonment/connection to sewer on private property. Project proposals accepted year- round.

Springs and Watershed Restoration Program

The Springs and Watershed Restoration Program provides funding assistance for projects that improve the quality and quantity of the state’s water resources. This program works closely with the water management districts, local governments and other stakeholders to identify and implement springs projects that achieve restoration goals.

Water Quality Improvement Grant Program

The Water Quality Improvement Grant Program provides funding to address wastewater (including septic to sewer), stormwater, and agricultural sources of nutrients in waterbodies that are not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards, have an established total maximum daily load or are located within a basin management action plan area, a reasonable assurance plan area, an accepted alternative restoration plan area, or a rural area of opportunity under s. 288.0656.

Other Division Programs

• The Water Quality and Supply Program administers grants for alternative water supply projects and other activities directed by the Florida Legislature.
• The Water Supply Restoration program helps restore water supply to safe drinking water levels for Floridians whose wells are impacted by human-made contaminants.
• The Deepwater Horizon program handles funds associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Contact

Division of Water Restoration Assistance

3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 3600

Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000

850-245-2836