Water infrastructure is an extremely broad asset class ranging from drinking water to stormwater, as well as wastewater and sewage treatment. Financing water infrastructure is a major challenge for communities across the country, yet possible through innovative financing programs on the local, state and federal level.
The development finance toolbox provides dozens of financing tools and mechanisms that can be effective in financing all facets of water infrastructure. Financing tools for water infrastructure are available from the local, state and federal level. Primarily, three specific tools exist to support water infrastructure – bond financing, state revolving loan funds, and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), a federal credit subsidy program. These affordable programs provide for safe, clean drinking water and sustainable improvements to current, aging water infrastructure.
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Want to learn more about any type of water infrastructure financing? This section contains resources on understanding the basics of water finance.
Water Infrastructure Financing: The WIFIA Program
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program provides financial assistance for water infrastructure projects, including projects to build and upgrade wastewater and drinking water treatment systems. This Congressional Research Service publication provides an introduction to the WIFIA program.
Building Resiliency Through Green InfrastructureMembers only 
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Cities have recently integrated more green infrastructure strategies into their climate resiliency planning. Creating climate-resilient cities takes more than a series of infrastructure investments; more than sea walls and permeable pavement. It takes investment in people. Those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are those without living wages or access to political power—very often communities of color.
Funding Land Conservation Projects with the CWSRFMembers only Login
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is an affordable source of funding for a wide range of projects that address water quality, including land conservation and restoration projects. The conservation of natural lands reduces contamination at the source, protecting water quality and lessening the need for wastewater treatment through traditional methods.
Search the map below to find Water Finance program by state. This specialized search is part of
CDFA's State Financing Program Directory, the only online resource cataloging the development finance programs offered by state governments. Click on a state to see a sample of programs available. Login with a CDFA Member account at the top of the page to view full results.
California Rural Infrastructure Finance Guidebook
CALED knows from its work supporting economic development throughout California that infrastructure financing is a challenge for many rural communities. CALED collaborated with CDFA to develop this guidebook to meet the need for a resource to help build capacity in those areas, as well as move economic development projects forward.
USDA Report on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity 2019Members only Login
On April 25, 2017, the President of the United States established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity through Executive Order 13790. The purpose and function of the Task Force was to identify legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to promote agriculture, economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, energy security, and quality of life in rural America.
Miami WIFIA Project Fact SheetMembers only Login
Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department will construct fourteen new injection wells at three wastewater treatment plants. When the construction of this project and all necessary associated facilities are complete, Miami-Dade County will eliminate routine ocean discharges and be in compliance with the State of Florida’s Ocean Outfall Legislation Program.
Building Resiliency Through Green InfrastructureMembers only Login
Cities have recently integrated more green infrastructure strategies into their climate resiliency planning. Creating climate-resilient cities takes more than a series of infrastructure investments; more than sea walls and permeable pavement. It takes investment in people. Those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are those without living wages or access to political power—very often communities of color.
Idaho Infrastructure 2018 Report CardMembers only Login
This 2018 Report Card for Idaho’s Infrastructure, prepared by an experienced team of civil engineers and infrastructure professionals, shows that while some progress is evident, more should be done to make Idaho a stronger, safer, healthier, and more prosperous state. It was authored by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
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The
Into Energy & Water Finance Course explores the wide range of tools available for financing energy & water projects, including bonds, tax credits, revolving loan funds, grant programs, and more. This course will cover how new energy production/generation, energy efficiency, retrofitting and support programs are used throughout the country to encourage investment in large and small projects alike.
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Weekly Development Finance COVID-19 Briefing
CDFA will be hosting a weekly briefing about development finance COVID-19 news and resources. These one-hour phone calls will feature legislative updates, news from our members, state and local financing strategies, and lessons learned from previous development finance responses to disasters.
CDFA Federal Policy Conference (cancelled)
The federal government plays a critical role in driving private and public investment in innovation, job creation, infrastructure, and community development. With the 2020 presidential election quickly approaching, development finance will be a key policy issue across the nation. The 116th Congress will also play a major role in shaping our country’s economic development policy going forward. It's up to the development finance community to focus the national discussion on smart federal policy, and CDFA is the voice of the economic development finance community on Capitol Hill. For these reasons, CDFA will host its CDFA Federal Policy Conference on April 14-15 in Washington DC.
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CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Bonds + Financing SustainabilityMembers only Login
Bonds are considered the bedrock tool for development finance because of their common use funding traditional projects however they also can be adaptable for new types of projects. In the current day and age sustainability has become a key focus in development finance and bonds have more frequently been used to finance this new wave of projects. During this installment of the BNY Mellon // CDFA Webcast Series Sharon Wojda from the City of Bend, Oregon, and Stephen Pearlman from Pearlman & Miranda, LLC., will look at outside the box ideas for issuing bonds to fund sustainable areas of finance including renewable energy, adaptive reuse for infrastructure and sustainable water solutions.
CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Opportunities and Advancements in Water FinanceMembers only Login
During this installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series, learn from expert speakers Jordan Dorfman from the EPA, Tyler Old from PFM, John DeLuca from CoBank, and Jong Sook Nee from McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC as they discuss developments in the water finance space and how different financing mechanisms like bonds, RLFs, P3s, and other tools are being used to address today’s water infrastructure projects.
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