Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program (CWSRF)

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is a low interest loan program to assist communities with a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.

Elizabeth Tokach Duran, P.E.

Program Manager


The North Dakota CWSRF Program is jointly managed by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) and the North Dakota Public Finance Authority (PFA). Financial information can be found at: https://www.pfa.nd.gov/.

State Revolving Fund Reinvented Presentation - December 14, 2023 (video recording)

Planned CWSRF Schedule

  • The CWSRF began accepting questionnaires for projects to be included on the 2025 Intended Use Plan (IUP) on September 3, 2024. Questionnaires are due by November 1, 2024

    Request for Project Information

  • A draft of the IUP will be available in December 2024
  • A public hearing is planned for January 8, 2025
  • Public comments will be due by January 16, 2025

Program Highlights

  • The North Dakota CWSRF Program is jointly managed by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) and the North Dakota Public Finance Authority (PFA).
  • The current effective interest rate for CWSRF loans is 2.0 percent for most projects. This includes a 1.5 percent interest rate plus a 0.5 percent administration fee.
  • Loan terms up to 30 years are available depending on the useful life of the project.
  • The SRF programs require borrowers to only pay interest on loan funds that have been drawn.
  • There is no penalty for early payment from excess revenues; prepayments are not allowed from bond proceeds.
  • Bond counsel fees are the only cost of issuance expense.
  • The SRF programs prepare the continuing disclosure filings.

Eligible Applicants

A political subdivision is eligible for financial assistance under the state revolving fund if the project is included in the current intended use plan. Examples of political subdivisions include the following:

  • Cities
  • Counties
  • Townships
  • Water Resource Districts
  • Recreation Service Districts
  • Commerce Authorities

Eligible Projects

The following types of projects and costs are eligible for SRF funding:

  • Centralized wastewater treatment (treatment works)
    • Primary/secondary
    • Advanced
    • Sewer system
    • Combined sewer overflow (CSO) correction
    • Climate resilience for treatment works
    • Security
  • Energy conservation
    • Renewable energy projects for POTWs (project specific determination)
  • Water conservation
    • Water meters (non-treatment works)
    • Water efficient irrigation equipment (non-treatment works)
    • Water reuse (project specific determination)
  • Stormwater (non-treatment works)
    • Traditional pipe, storage and treatment systems
    • Sediment controls including street sweepers and vacuum trucks
    • Green Infrastructure
  • Landfill (non-treatment works)
    • Landfill Closure
      • Capping systems (gas venting layer, geosynthetics, barrier layer, top cover, etc.)
      • Leachate collection, storage, and treatment systems (onsite or off-site)
      • Side slope seepage prevention and control systems
      • Gas condensation systems
      • Monitoring wells and equipment
      • Stormwater runoff controls
    • Landfill leachate collection and treatment
      • Landfill liner systems
        • Drainage blankets and geomembranes
        • Landfill liners and sumps
        • Perforated pipe networks
        • Filter layers
      • Leachate removal or collection systems
      • Toe drains and cut-off walls
      • Onsite leachate treatment facilities
      • Barge shelters, containment booms, litter fences

More information about project eligibilities can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-07/documents/overview_of_cwsrf_eligibilities_may_2016.pdf.

Ineligible Project Types and Costs

  • Operation and maintenance costs
  • Projects for systems that lack adequate technical, managerial, and financial capability

Federal Requirements

There are a number of federal laws, executive orders, and government-wide policies that apply to projects and activities receiving federal financial assistance, regardless of whether the federal laws authorizing the assistance make them applicable. These federal authorities are referred to as cross-cutting authorities or cross-cutters. The cross-cutters can be divided into three groups: environmental; social policy, and economic and miscellaneous authorities. Environmental cross-cutters include federal laws and executive orders that relate to preservation of historical and archaeological sites, endangered species, wetlands, agricultural land, and the like. Social policy cross-cutters include requirements such as minority and women's business enterprise participation goals, equal opportunity employment goals, and nondiscrimination laws (super cross-cutters). The super cross-cutters prohibit the discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or age. Economic cross-cutters directly regulate the expenditure of federal funds. A list of the cross-cutters can be found here.

Additional Requirements:

Financial assistance through the SRF programs requires compliance with applicable rules, policies, and statutes including:

  • Application of Davis-Bacon wage rate requirements (29 CFR Part 5) (treatment works only)
  • Compliance with EPA’s American Iron & Steel Provision (treatment works only)
  • CWSRF Equivalency Projects must also comply with the following additional requirements
    • Architectural and Engineering Procurement (40 U.S.C. 1101)
    • Single Audit Act
    • Build America Buy America Act
    • Signage Requirements (BIL equivalency and/or BIL loan forgiveness projects)

Additional CWSRF Resources including Laws and Regulations and Policy and Guidance can be found on the EPA’s website here.

Federal Cross-Cutting Authorities

Environmental Authorities

  • Archeological and Historic Preservation Act, Public Law (PL) 93-291, as amended; 16 USC 469a-1
  • Clean Air Act, PL 95-95, as amended; 42 USC 7401
  • Clean Water Act, Titles III, IV and V, PL 92-500, as amended
  • Endangered Species Act, PL 93-205, as amended; 16 USC 1531
  • Environmental Justice, EO 12898
  • Farmland Protection Policy Act, PL 97-98; 7 USC 4201
  • Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, PL 85-624, as amended; 16 USC 661
  • Floodplain Management, Executive Order 11988 (1977), as amended by EO 12148 (1979)
  • National Environmental Policy Act, PL 91-190; 42 USC 4321 et. seq
  • National Historic Preservation Act, PL 89-665, as amended; 16 USC 470
  • Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment, Executive Order 11593
  • Protection of Wetlands, Executive Order 11990 (1977), as amended by EO 12608 (1997)
  • Safe Drinking Water Act, PL 93-523, as amended; 42 USC 300f
  • Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, PL 90-542; 16 USC 1271-1287


Social Policy Authorities

  • Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 USC 6101-6107 (super cross-cutter)
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI, 42 USC 2000d (super cross-cutter)
  • Equal Employment Opportunity, EO 11246, as amended
  • Prohibition against sex discrimination under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Section 13 of PL 92-500 (super cross-cutter)
  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, PL 93-112, 29 USC 701 (super cross-cutter)
  • Utilization of Small, Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (DBE’s), EO 11625, 12138, and 12432, (40 CRF Part 33)


Economic and Miscellaneous Authorities

  • Debarment and Suspension, EO 12549
  • Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, PL 89-754, as amended; 42 USC 3331
  • Drug Free Workplace Act, PL 100-690, 41 USC Ch. 81
  • Lobbying Regulation, Section 319 of PL 101-121, 31 USC 1352
  • Preservation of Open Competition and Government Neutrality Towards Government Contractors Labor Relations of Federal and Federally Funded construction Projects, EO 13202, as amended by EO 13208
  • Procurement Prohibitions, Section 306 of the Clean Air Act and Section 508 of the Clean Water Act, including EO 11738
  • Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act, PL 91-646 (1971), as amended 42 USC 460

Loan Application Process

The process in which a recipient applies for an SRF loan is as follows:

  • To qualify for an SRF loan, the project must be on the Project Priority List. 1
  • The loan applicant must select and retain a bond counsel.
  • A pre-application must be submitted in Funding Infrastructure in North Dakota (FIND).2
  • An application must be submitted in SRF Tracker. 3
  1. The Project Priority List is created every year and potential loan recipients and interested parties must submit a questionnaire to be placed on or stay on the list. The  most recent version of the questionnaire can be found here. Request for questionnaires typically begins every fall and may occur again if Project Priority List is amended.
  2. An ND Login Account is required to apply for FIND and use SRF Tracker. The login page will provide instructions to create an ND Login account if the user does not have one. You do not need to create a new ND Login Account if you have one for any other purpose such as Game & Fish license, etc. The user will then need to email either ndsrf@nd.gov or ndpfa@nd.gov with their:
    1. Name
    2. ND Login ID (not password)
    3. Title
    4. Email address
    5. Phone number
  3. After the FIND application is processed and SRF eligibility is determined, the FIND funding package offer that includes SRF funding will be emailed to the potential loan recipient. When the loan recipient is ready to apply for a loan, they can respond to the FIND funding package email to request that a loan application be set up in SRF Tracker.

Loan applications are accepted anytime. While an application can be processed and preliminary work completed without being on the list, no funds can be transferred to the community until their project appears on the Project Priority List, their loan is approved, and SRF requirements are met.

Professional Services

A community will typically require the services of a consulting engineer (a North Dakota registered Professional Engineer) and bond counsel (an attorney or law firm). The consulting engineer is responsible for preparing all required technical documents. These include the facility plan, plans and specifications, bidding documents, operation and maintenance manuals, and others. In addition, the consulting engineer provides onsite inspection services during construction to ensure quality control and construction in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality will work closely with the community’s consulting engineer to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements. The North Dakota Public Finance Authority will work with the community and its bond counsel to ensure that all legal and financial requirements are met. Bond Counsel can be found on the PFA website here.

Project Development

SRF Project Flowchart can be found here. And the SRF Project Manual can be found here.

The typical SRF project consists of three steps, the facility plan, plans and specifications, and construction. As the name implies, the facility plan is a planning document that establishes existing conditions, identifies the current problems, projects future conditions at the design year, and evaluates alternatives to solve the existing problems and meet future needs. The evaluation of alternatives includes both a cost effectiveness analysis and an environmental assessment. The intent of the facility plan is to arrive at the most cost effective, environmentally sound solution to the problem. The facility plan must be approved by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) before the project can proceed to the next step. The Outline for Facilities Planning can be found here and the Cost and Effectiveness Certification can be found here.

When the facility plan is approved, plans, specifications, and bidding documents are prepared based on the recommended alternative from the facility plan. These must comply with, among other things, MBE/WBE and EEO requirements. The Specification Package and Required Bid Language can be found here. Once the documents are approved by the NDDEQ, the project can be advertised and bids opened. If the bids are acceptable, the construction contract must be awarded to the low, responsive, responsible bidder following NDDEQ authorization. The Bid Document Submittal Checklist can be found here. Construction can now begin at the community's convenience.

At this time, the NDDEQ will schedule a preconstruction meeting with the community, consulting engineer and contractor(s) to explain the construction related requirements that must be complied with and to answer any questions that arise. In addition to the preconstruction meeting, periodic interim inspections will be conducted by NDDEQ engineers during the construction phase of the project. Since SRF loans are cost reimbursable, construction costs must be incurred before the community can receive payments. Once costs are incurred, the community should submit periodic payment requests to the NDDEQ for processing. Payment Request Forms can be found here. Payment should be received by the community within two weeks of receipt of the request by the Department. When construction is completed, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality will conduct a final inspection to verify compliance with federal requirements, verify that the project was constructed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, and establish final costs. The Final Document Checklist and Forms can be found here.

Repayment of principle must begin no more than one year after the project is declared operational. Prior to this, the North Dakota Public Finance Authority will work with the community to establish a repayment schedule.

Each loan recipient is required to certify that one year after the initiation of operation date, the project is still meeting design specifications and project performance standards. A sample of the One Year Certification letter can be found here.

Program Information

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program was authorized by the U.S. Congress through Title VI of the Clean Water Act (CWA) as amended in 1987. The Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide federal funds to states to capitalize their CWSRF Programs.

The North Dakota CWSRF Program is jointly managed by the NDDEQ and the PFA. The NDDEQ receives the Federal Capitalization Grant and is responsible for the technical and overall administrative functions of the program. The PFA, under agreement with the NDDEQ, acts as the Department's financial agent and is responsible for the preparation and issuance of bonds, reviewing the financial capability of loan applicants, investing program proceeds, handling loan repayments, financial statement preparation and other necessary financial functions.

Each year, the NDDEQ receives a capitalization grant from the EPA and the state of North Dakota is required to provide a 20 percent match; the PFA issues bonds to provide these match funds. Loan repayments are used to retire any outstanding bonds and provide additional loans for project funding. The revolving aspect of the program will assure that North Dakota has funds for needed projects far into the future.

Additional information about the CWSRF program can be found on the EPA’s website here.


Email and Phone Number List

Filter 
Last Name First Name E-Mail Address Program Phone
Allery Ryan rjallery@nd.gov MF Clean Water SRF 701-328-5294
Bruschwein David dbruschw@nd.gov Municipal Facilities Division 701-328-5259
Carman Patty pcarman@nd.gov Municipal Facilities Division 701-328-5251
Christianson David David.Christianson@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5178
Dunbar Megan msdunbar@nd.gov MF Operator Training & Inspection 701-328-1427
Fisher Shannon smfisher@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5220
Friesz Roxela rFriesz@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5297
Heinle Shawn swheinle@nd.gov MF Operator Training & Inspection 701-328-6627
Herreid Stacey sherreid@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5287
Ihsan Hamid hihsan@nd.gov MF Operator Training & Inspection 701-328-5413
Lee Laura llee@nd.gov Municipal Facilities Division 701-328-6628
Letzring Brianna bletzring@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-9095
Martin Shawn srMartin@nd.gov MF Clean Water SRF 701-328-5212
Murray Mitch mjMurray@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5250
Papalichev Hristo hpapalichev@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5223
Peltier Danielle dspeltier@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5279
Peters Bryce bpeters@nd.gov MF Operator Training & Inspection 701-328-5209
Schafer Jacob jrschafer@nd.gov MF Operator Training & Inspection 701-328-6375
Schmitt Bryan brschmitt@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5299
Stoppler Sharmaine sstopple@nd.gov MF Clean Water SRF 701-328-5238
Tillotson LeeAnn ltillots@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5293
Tokach-Duran Elizabeth etokachduran@nd.gov MF Clean Water SRF 701-328-5256
Trythall Mike mtrythal@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5269
Uhlman James jUhlman@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5163
Veach Nym nveach@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-6624
Von Wahlde Joseph Joseph.VonWahlde@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5207
Wahl Evan emWahl@nd.gov MF Clean Water SRF 701-328-5278
Washek Sandra swashek@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5190
Wavra Greg gwavra@nd.gov MF Drinking Water 701-328-5224
Wellman Aaron adwellman@nd.gov MF Drinking Water SRF 701-328-5284
Wingerter Vance vance.wingerter@nd.gov MF Operator Training & Inspection 701-328-5175