Wastewater Treatment Financial Assistance Program

Wastewater Treatment Financial Assistance Program

In 2006 the Iowa Legislature created the Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program as a direct result of the changes in water quality standards adopted by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The concern was that cities would be required to make expensive improvements to their wastewater treatment facilities because of more stringent regulations on discharge. The requirements to receive funding are:

The community being served must have a population of less than 3,000

The population served must be considered disadvantaged

The improvements must be a result of the new water quality standards adopted in 2006

The new water quality standards may result in stricter discharge requirements for wastewater treatment systems. In order to target the funds to those communities affected by the water quality standards, the funds are only used for those improvements that are a direct result of new water quality standards.

Engineers, when submitting a facility plan to DNR, must indicate which parts of the project are due to the new water quality standards. DNR will confirm that determination, which allows the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) to fund those improvements directly caused by the change in water quality standards and finance them at the percentages set out in the legislation. This program does not fund collection systems.

Priority is given to communities that use other state or federal financing programs. A joint application with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will be developed for the 2008 cycle. The disadvantaged community criteria developed for the Drinking Water State Revolivng Fund program is the same as that used by CDBG, which makes a joint application even easier. Communities are also encouraged to apply for State Revolving Fund Planning & Design Loans.

Priority is also given to projects that provide significant improvement to water quality in the relevant watershed. In order to evaluate the environment impact, DNR scores each project using the same point system as that used in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program.

Grants are to be awarded quarterly. Deadlines are as follows:

Application submitted to IFA by January 15 for March award

Application submitted to IFA by April 15 for June award

Application submitted to IFA by July 15 for September award

Application submitted to IFA by October 15 for December award

NOTE: Applications to IFA must include concurrence letter from the DNR and the project score.

Water Treatment Financial Assistance program application
Wastewater Treatment Financial Assistance program process
Iowa city/county LMI census data
Instructions for conducting a LMI survey
Water Treatment Financial Assistance program rules

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Lori Beary
800.432.7230