This agreement provides a capitalization grant for the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (dwsrf) program

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment received a $13.1 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) capitalization grant (CFDA 66.468) from EPA Region 7, awarded July 1, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2030. This formula grant enables the state to establish a low-cost, long-term financing mechanism providing below-market-rate loans to eligible public water systems for planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure projects. The program also funds set-aside activities including technical assistance to small water systems, operator certification programs, and source water protection initiatives, with the ultimate objective of protecting public health and building technical, managerial, and financial capacity across Nebraska's public water systems.

The award includes five sub-awards to municipalities and local government entities for specific drinking water improvements. These include a revolving loan fund distribution to the Village of Hampton; a citizen scientist education pilot project with the City of O'Neill focused on drinking water quality testing and nitrate remediation; test well drilling and installation projects for the Village of Dannebrog and City of Genoa to locate adequate drinking water sources; and a water quality monitoring and contaminant readiness enhancement project for the City of Chadron. These sub-awardees represent the anticipated initial distribution of capitalization funds toward eligible drinking water infrastructure and support activities across the state.

The award furthers the public health protection objectives of the safe drinking water act (sdwa). Activities:the recipient of these funds will provide low interest rate financing to eligible public water systems for the costs associated with the planning, design, and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects. The recipient may also use some of the funding for specific set-asides, including but not limited to providing technical assistance to small systems, for operator certification activities, and source water protection activities. Subrecipient:subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include financing, planning, design, and construction of eligible public health-related projects. Deliverables will also be used to increase the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of public water systems. The expected outcome is public health protection. The intended beneficiaries include citizens throughout the state.