Water Finance Resource Center
Financing water infrastructure is a major challenge and opportunity for communities throughout the country. However, water infrastructure is an extremely broad asset class ranging from drinking and storm water issues to waste water and sewage processing improvements. The development finance toolbox, none the less, provides dozens of financing tools and mechanisms that can be effective in financing this infrastructure. Primarily, three specific tools exist to support water infrastructure – bonds, state revolving loan funds and the new federal credit subsidy program called WIFIA.
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+Understanding Water Finance
Water finance is important to communities across the nation. CDFA has collected many resources to help you understand this important tool.
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+Water and Sewer Bond Finance Resources
Bonds are used everyday to finance sewer and water infrastructure. CDFA has collected several resources on this important application of bond finance.
CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Bonds + Financing SustainabilityMembers only
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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.
Water Infrastructure Financial LeadershipMembers only
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The EPA has designed a document for decision makers to navigate the process of investing in water infrastructure. It will help identify what is needed for financial planning, how to fund and finance a project, and consider which strategic approaches can be used to protect local investments.
View More Water and Sewer Bond Resources
+State Revolving Fund Resources
State Revolving Fund's provide low-interest loans for investments in water and sanitation. View CDFA's many resources on this program to learn more.
Using State Revolving Funds to Build Climate-Resilient CommunitiesMembers only
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This report from the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) examines State Revolving Funds and their impact on creating climate-resilient communities. The report encourages the development of State Revolving Fund (SRF) policies that incorporate water efficiency, green infrastructure, and flood risk reduction and recommends several approaches to implement projects funded by SRFs.
View More State Revolving Fund Resources
+Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA)
WIFIA is a federal credit program administered by the EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects. CDFA has collected several resources on the important federal program.
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Members only
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In recent years, policymakers have considered several legislative options to help finance water infrastructure projects, including projects to build and upgrade wastewater and drinking water treatment systems. This report examines one particular option, a “Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act” (WIFIA) program, which Congress included in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014.
WIFIA and the US Water Infrastructure GapMembers only
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The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, “WIFIA,” is a funding mechanism that was enacted to address the US water infrastructure gap. WIFIA aims to encourage private investment in public water infrastructure projects, and the EPA announced it had received 43 letters of interest in its first round of solicitations. In this episode of Chadbourne Currents pocast, Chadbourne associate Chadron Edwards speak with Jake Falk, Counsel in their Washington, DC office, to discuss the WIFIA program.
WIFIA Project Approval and Closing
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Project Approval and Closing - Learn about application submission and evaluation, term sheet development, and closing.
WIFIA Project SelectionMembers only
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Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Project Selection - Learn about the application and selection process, including the letter of interest components, selection criteria and their weights, and preliminary creditworthiness and engineering assessments.
View More WIFIA Resources
+Drinking Water Finance Resources
Clean drinking water is essential to a healthy community. These resources provide several examples on how these systems can be financed.
Conditions Are Ripe for More PPPs in for Water InfrastructureMembers only
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The American Water Works Association estimates the amount needed for investments in US drinking water infrastructure is about $1 trillion. The PPP procurement model is being considered for several projects in development but only a few water and wastewater PPP projects have reached financial close in recent years.
Addressing the Challenge of Aging Water Infrastructure Through Science and InnovationMembers only
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The U.S. population is increasing and shifting geographically. Communities across the country are facing challenges in making costly upgrades and repairs to their aging water infrastructure, which includes drinking water and wastewater conveyance systems and related treatment facilities. This requires investment for new infrastructure in growth areas and also strands existing infrastructure in areas of decreasing population. Despite this need, investment in research and development has declined and current practices and techniques may not be sufficient to address emerging issues and potentially stronger regulatory requirements.
EPA has issued its Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy as part of its efforts to promote sustainable infrastructure within the water sector. Making water infrastructure last longer, while increasing its cost-effectiveness and sustainability, is essential to protecting human health and the environment, and maintaining safe drinking water and clean water bodies. This new policy is part of EPA's priority to protect America's waters.
View More Drinking Water Resources
+Sewage & Waste Finance Resources
Proper sanitation and capacity are essential to good sewer systems. These resources provide several different ways of financing sewer & waste systems to ensure that these standards are upheld.
Conditions Are Ripe for More PPPs in for Water InfrastructureMembers only
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The American Water Works Association estimates the amount needed for investments in US drinking water infrastructure is about $1 trillion. The PPP procurement model is being considered for several projects in development but only a few water and wastewater PPP projects have reached financial close in recent years.
Financing Resilient InfrastructureMembers only
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The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Office of Economic Resilience released this fact sheet on financing high-performance infrastructure, which are designed to help stretch public funding further. They are also useful for communities that want to incorporate resilience and social co-benefits into their infrastructure design and delivery.
View More Sewage & Waste Resources
+Stormwater Finance
Having proper stormwater infrastructure allows cities to quickly remove water from their streets and roadways thus increasing the overall effeciency of the city. These systems are essential and there are many ways to finance them.
View More Stormwater Resources
+Case Studies
Water finance is important to communities across the country. CDFA has collected several case study examples.
Development in Eastern KentuckyMembers only
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In August, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet announced three grants worth $5 million to spur economic development and job creation in Eastern Kentucky. How might these grants be used locally and are there opportunities for leveraging this for further financing and capital? Bob Scott from the Division of Abandoned Mine Lands discusses the allocation of these funds as well as their impact on the region.
Measuring the Impact of Water Quality InitiativesMembers only
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The primary finding of this study is that the Fund for Lake Michigan has had a very positive, demonstrable economic impact in the southeastern region of Wisconsin. Data suggests that, if funded in the same manner, the Fund should continue to have a similar level of economic impact for the foreseeable future.
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+Webcasts
CDFA // BNY Mellon Webcast Series: Bonds + Financing SustainabilityMembers only
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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
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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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+Headlines
Communities utilize water finance tools every day and CDFA collects headlines on projects and news daily.
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