Federal Grant Award Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources a formula grant of $22.4M under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program (CFDA 66.468), effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. This capitalization grant funds the state's drinking water revolving loan fund, which provides low-interest financing to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure improvements. The award advances public health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act by enabling communities throughout Wisconsin to address critical water quality infrastructure needs and regulatory compliance requirements.

In addition to direct project financing, the grant supports set-aside activities including technical assistance for small water systems, operator certification programs, and source water protection initiatives. The DWSRF program operates as a revolving loan mechanism, enabling the state to provide below-market-rate financing that builds technical, managerial, and financial capacity within public water systems. Anticipated deliverables include completion of eligible drinking water projects and increased institutional capacity of water systems, with citizens throughout Wisconsin as intended beneficiaries.