Infrastructure Funding
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021. Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the IIJA will invest a total of $1.2 trillion nationally for a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program Funding
U.S. EPA is administering approximately $43.4 billion in BIL funds nationally over the next five years for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
Because of their proven track record and long history in administering funding for infrastructure projects, the existing Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs in each state have been designated by Congress as the delivery mechanism for these infrastructure funds. Some of the funding provided will supplement the states’ core SRF programs to support additional drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. In addition, funding is being provided to assist communities in addressing lead service lines and emerging contaminants.
Since the establishment of Ohio’s SRF programs over 30 years ago, more than $13 billion in infrastructure financing has been provided to support the development of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in communities throughout Ohio.
Assuming that historic SRF program allocation formulas will be applied by U.S. EPA in determining IIJA funding awards, the table below includes a summary of estimated annual funding that may be awarded to Ohio EPA’s SRF programs in each of these focus areas over the next five years. These figures are estimates, and funding has not yet been awarded to Ohio or other states. Each state SRF program must apply for its allocation for each grant annually. The grant nomination process has not yet been opened to states by U.S. EPA.
Estimated Annual Funding for Ohio’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs from the Federal IIJA
| Year | Ohio CWSRF Supplemental Portion for Base Program | Ohio's CWSRF Portion for Emerging Contaminants | Ohio's DWSRF Supplemental Portion for Base Program | Ohio's DWSRF Portion for Emerging Contaminants | Ohio's DWSRF Portion for Lead | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $100.2 M | $5.2 M | $45.2 M | $19 M | $71.3 M | $240.9 M |
| 2023 | $117.3 M | $11.9 M | $52 M | $19 M | $71.3 M | $271.5 M |
| 2024 | $128 M | $11.9 M | $57 M | $19 M | $71.3 M | $287.2 M |
| 2025 | $138 M | $11.9 M | $62 M | $19 M | $71.3 M | $302.2 M |
| 2026 | $138 M | $11.9 M | $62 M | $19 M | $71.3 M | $302.2 M |
| Total* | $621.5 M | $52.8 M | $278.2 M | $95 M | $356.5 M | $1.404 B |
| Proportion of Total that can be awarded as Principal Forgiveness | $304.5 M | $52.8 | $136.3 M | $95 M | $174.6 M | $763.2 M |
Note: Bold numbers are actual allotments. The other grant amounts are estimates until actual allotments are received from U.S. EPA.
Funding outlined in the above table must be administered through existing SRF state programs. In some categories, a proportion of the funding received by the states must be awarded as loan funding. Approximately half of the funds will be available as loan funds and half as principal forgiveness (grant-like) funds. The IIJA dictates the amounts that can be awarded as principal forgiveness.
State SRF programs will apply annually to receive funding for each of the five categories from 2022-2026. As part of the application process, states will be required to submit a plan (called an Intended Use Plan), and other information as part of the grant application.
For more information about our SRF programs, please see our webpages:
Looking to fund a water or wastewater project in your area?
Ohio EPA has several funding opportunities for communities for water infrastructure. Read more below, or print the PDF to share with others.
Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF)
The WPCLF is Ohio’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The WPCLF’s mission is to help local governments implement projects which will protect human health and improve water quality.
Eligible WPCLF Projects (Partial Listing)
- New wastewater treatment plants (WWTP)
- WWTP upgrades and rehabilitation
- New sanitary sewers for unsewered areas
- Sanitary sewer rehabilitation or replacement
- Correction of combined sewer overflows
- Nonpoint source pollution control projects
- Stream protection and stream restoration
- Stormwater projects
- Home sewage treatment system replacement programs
Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA)
The WSRLA is Ohio’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The WSRLA’s mission is to help public water systems provide safe drinking water to Ohioans, and to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Eligible WSRLA Projects (Partial Listing)
- New water treatment plants (WTP)
- WTP rehabilitation
- New waterlines
- Waterline rehabilitation/replacement
- Water tanks/towers
- Pump/booster stations
- Regionalization projects
- New water meters
- Standby/back-up power
- New well fields
- Emergency interconnections
- Asset Management Plans
- Lead service line identification and replacement
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is the formal name of the federal infrastructure bill that was passed in November 2021. This law will provide additional funding through Ohio’s existing state revolving fund (SRF) programs (WPCLF and WSRLA).
Funding will be spread out over 5+ years, from 2022-2026. Ohio is estimating receiving $1.39 billion in funding, of which $751 million will be used as principal forgiveness (grant-like funding). All funds from the IIJA must be used for SRF-eligible projects and meet program requirements. The IIJA has put restrictions on how the funding can be awarded which can be explained in the chart below.
Additional Information and Next Steps
U.S. EPA is currently conducting stakeholder meetings with states and developing more detailed guidance for states, including instructions to apply for funding. It is anticipated that this guidance may be available to states in early-2022. Ohio EPA intends to apply for funding when this guidance is finalized and the application process is opened to the states.
In the interim, Ohio EPA is working on an outreach plan to ensure that communities and other stakeholders are kept informed of program developments, availability of funding and the process to apply for funding to support their important infrastructure projects throughout the state.
