wifia@epa.gov
202.564.2992

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program (WIFIA) provides secured, direct loans and loan guarantees for eligible water infrastructure projects, with 15% of funds set aside for small, rural, and tribal communities that serve populations less than 25,000.

Eligible projects include:

• Wastewater projects that are eligible under the Clean Water Fund
• Drinking water projects that are eligible for the Drinking Water Fund
• Projects that enhance energy efficiency in the operation of a public water system or publicly owned treatment works
• Projects for repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of a treatment works, community water system, or aging water distribution or waste collection facility
• A brackish or sea water desalination project, including chloride control, a managed aquifer recharge project, a water recycling project, or a project to provide alternative water supplies to reduce aquifer depletion
• A project to prevent, reduce, or mitigate the effects of drought
• The acquisition of real property or an interest in real property
• A combination of eligible projects listed above

Eligible applicants include:

• Corporations
• Partnerships
• Joint ventures
• Trusts
• Federal, state, and local governmental entities/agencies
• Tribal governments or consortia of tribal governments
• State infrastructure financing authorities

EPA estimates that approximately $5.5 billion is available for long-term, low-cost financing for water and wastewater projects.

Links to application instructions and the WIFIA handbook are available on the program website.

Prospective borrowers begin the process by submitting a letter of interest. The letter of interest may be submitted by email to wifia@epa.gov or through EPA’s SharePoint site.

Selected borrowers will be invited to submit a full application.