The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is pleased to announce several opportunities for funding drinking water infrastructure.  ALL applications may be submitted year round; however, VDH will conduct one round of evaluations submitted by the deadline.  Applications postmarked/received after the due date will be considered for funding in the following round.  Funding is made possible by our Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Program and the Water Supply Assistance Grant Fund (WSAG) Program (if funds are available).  Our FY 2020 DWSRF Intended Use Plan will be developed using your input on these issues.

1. Public Comments and Set-Aside Suggestions Invited (Submission deadline April 1)

To identify ways to improve our Program, VDH seeks meaningful input from the public, the waterworks industry, or other interested party.  Anyone may make comments or recommendations to support or revise the Program.  Anyone has the opportunity to suggest new or continuing set-aside (non-construction) activities.  Set-aside funds help VDH assist waterworks owners to prepare for future drinking water challenges and assure the sustainability of safe drinking water.

 2. Construction, Consolidation, and Refinance Fund Requests (Application deadline April 1)

Owners of community waterworks and nonprofit noncommunity waterworks are eligible to apply for construction funds. VDH makes selections based on criteria described in the DWSRF Program Design Manual, such as: existing public health problems, noncompliance, affordability, regionalization, the availability of matching funds.   VDH anticipates a funding level of $25 million.

3. 1452(k) Source Water Protection Initiatives (Application deadline April 1)

Loan funds are available to: (1) community and non-profit noncommunity waterworks to acquire land/conservation easements and (2) to community waterworks, only to establish local voluntary incentive-based protection measures.

4. Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement Program (Application deadline April 1)

In an effort to accelerate the removal of lead in drinking water, the DWSRF Program has made funding available for the complete removal of the public and/or private portion of the LSLs.  In conjunction with other available funds this program intends to provide up to $5000 dollars as grant funds (of which up to $500 may be eligible as an admin fee) for each service line replaced on the homeowners side of the meter.   The LSL includes pipe entry into the structure (up to shut off valve) but excludes the premise plumbing.

 The VDH’s DWSRF Program Design Manual describes the features of the above opportunities for funding. After receiving the aforementioned public input, VDH will develop an Intended Use Plan (IUP) for public review and comment.  When developed the IUP will describe specific details for use of the funds.  A public meeting is planned and written comments will be accepted before submittal of a final version to the USEPA for approval.

 Applications, set-aside suggestion forms, Program Design Manuals and information materials are available on our web site: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/financial-construction-assistance-programs/drinking-water-funding-program-details/  This information can also be obtained from Steven Pellei, PE, FCAP Director, by calling (804) 864-7500, faxing (804) 864-7521, or writing to VDH – ODW, 109 Governor St., 6th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219.  Any comments should be directed to Mr. Pellei.

 Drinking Water Construction Funding Workshops

VDH will offer funding informational meetings via webcast.  The workshop will be recorded for future play back.  The tentative time and date for the webcast is 1 PM on February 20, 2019.   The link will be provided at a later date on the ODW website.

Material will focus on Drinking Water Construction funding available through VDH.  The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Program will be discussed.  You will be advised on program updates and then guided through program criteria, program applications, and the project scheduling steps needed for smooth project implementation.