Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Low-cost financial assistance for planning, design and construction projects to protect public health and improve and protect water quality.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) provides low-cost financial assistance for planning, design, and construction projects to communities, nonprofits, and other local government entities for both wastewater infrastructure projects (collection systems, pumping stations, and wastewater treatment) and other water pollution control projects (nonpoint source, watershed protection or restoration, and estuary management).
Five reasons to consider a CWSRF loan:
- Below-market loan rates with no closing costs or origination fees, and no prepayment penalties.
- Additional subsidy in the form of loan forgiveness may be available to make projects more affordable and sustainable for New Hampshire communities.
- Disbursement requests can be made as project costs are incurred, and interest on disbursements is 1% until the project reaches substantial completion.
- Loan repayments begin up to one year after substantial completion at the lowest available loan rate. Loan recipients receive the lower of either the rate at the time of loan origination or the rate at the time of loan closure.
- CWSRF staff assistance is available through every step of your project. This includes project planning and administration, design review, environmental review, and construction and compliance oversight.
How to apply for a CWSRF loan:
Each spring the CWSRF program solicits loan pre-applications for wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source projects. Pre-applications are also required for asset management, energy efficiency, stormwater planning and wastewater planning projects. All pre-applications are ranked and a Project Priority List (PPL) is created, which is included in the Intended Use Plan (IUP). The CWSRF program provides the public an opportunity to review and comment on the IUP every August before it is finalized. Applicants who have been approved for funding submit the authority to borrow with a loan application.
| Loan Term | Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| 5 Years | 2.0000% |
| 10 Years | 2.0000% |
| 15 Years | 2.6250% |
| 20 Years | 2.8000% |
| 30 Years | 2.8000% |
11-Bond GO Index for July 27, 2023 is 3.50%
Resources
Related Content
Guidance for CWSRF loans
CWSRF guidance documents include information on program funding and incentives, eligible projects, project requirements and deliverables. Guidance documents are available for asset management and planning for wastewater and stormwater, and more.
The CWSRF program publishes and distributes an Intended Use Plan (IUP) that details the CWSRF plan to utilize the available funds provided through an annual capitalization grant, state matching funds and loan repayment funds.
An integral part of the IUP is the Project Priority List (PPL). All pre-applications are reviewed and ranked based on the CWSRF program Ranking Criteria to create the PPL.
CWSRF pre-applications are scored based on Ranking Criteria to prioritize projects that best meet the goals of the program.
Apply for a Loan
If a project has been approved for funding based on the current PPL, a loan application needs to be submitted in order to receive funding for the project.
Engineering and Construction Documents
CWSRF projects should utilize standard state engineering contracts and front end documents. These can be found on the Wastewater Infrastructure Projects page.
Federal Provisions
Construction projects that utilize the CWSRF must adhere to a number of federal requirements because the program receives funds from the federal government. These requirements include: completing an environmental review prior to construction; following the requirements of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program; adhering to the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA); and maintaining compliance with the American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements. NHDES will work closely with the loan recipient, engineer, and contractor(s) to ensure compliance with the applicable requirements. Please visit the State Revolving Loan Fund page for additional information.
Project Certifications
NHDES requires certifications to document project requirements and milestones. These include: cost and effectiveness analysis, fiscal sustainability plan development, substantial completion, final completion, initiation of operation, and project performance. Program staff assist in collecting these certifications, where applicable, as they monitor projects funded by the CWSRF.
Disbursement Requests
CWSRF loan recipients can request disbursement of funds for eligible project costs once a financial assistance agreement has been executed and approved by Governor and Council. Recipients must submit a disbursement request package to NHDES to receive loan funds, which includes the Disbursement Request Form, Disbursement Request Checklist, and all required attachments as listed in the disbursement request checklist.
CWSRF Administrative Rules Env-Wq 500 require loan recipients to submit a disbursement request within six months of the date the loan was executed. After this initial submittal there is no requirement regarding the frequency with which disbursement requests need to be made. However, it is recommended to submit requests on a monthly or quarterly basis to keep requests current and manageable for all parties. Disbursement requests cannot be submitted more than once per month. Final disbursement requests should be received within six months of substantial completion of construction. See Disbursement Request Guidance for more information.