DRINKING WATER PROGRAM

Projects eligible for financing under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Program are those that address federal safe drinking water health standards. This includes replacement, source development and rehabilitation, treatment to comply with primary/ secondary drinking water standards, storage to prevent contamination from entering the water system and transmission lines/distribution systems to prevent contamination or to improve pressure to safe levels.

Drinking water in the United States of America is among the safest in the world. Yet, owners and operators of the nation’s public water systems must make significant infrastructure improvements to ensure they continue to supply safe drinking water to their customers. Congress passed amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1996 that included new regulatory requirements and other provisions to improve public health protection.

These amendments also authorized and financed a DWSRF to assist public water systems afford needed infrastructure improvements. The NJ Water Bank Financing Program, in partnership with the DEP Water Supply Administration, uses this funding to provide low-interest loans to help communities in New Jersey improve and safeguard their drinking water systems.

For more information on the Drinking Water SRF, please contact the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at 609-292-5550.

DRINKING WATER PROJECTS

Rehabilitation or development of sources to replace contaminated sources

• Treatment facilities to comply with primary/secondary drinking water standards.
• Storage facilities to prevent contamination from entering the water system.
• Transmission/distribution pipes to prevent contamination or improve water pressure to safe levels.
• Security Monitoring – Projects designed to improve security at otherwise funding eligible drinking water facilities are also eligible for funding, including but not limited to fencing, lighting, motion detectors, cameras, secure doors, and alternative auxiliary power sources.
• Green Projects - Green projects consist of drinking water projects that implement green infrastructure and water or energy efficiency improvements (those that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example). Green infrastructure includes such practices as replacing existing pavement with porous pavement, utilizing bioretention, constructing green roofs, creating rain gardens, and other practices that mimic natural hydrology and increase effective perviousness.