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On October 28th, 2025, the Local Infrastructure Hub hosted a session to explore the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The CWSRF provides local governments with low-cost loans and other financing options for a wide range of water quality projects. Funded by the federal government and administered by state agencies, the program supports initiatives such as wastewater treatment, stormwater management, habitat restoration, water conservation and reuse, and contaminated site cleanup. We were joined by Mayor Kathy Sheehan of Albany, New York; Chris Browning, Utilities Director of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Tony Parrott, CEO of Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District; Lori Johnson, Financial Assistance Division Chief, Oklahoma Water Resources Board; and Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of WaterNow Alliance.
Key Insights Shared
Be vocal about the value of the DWSRF.
Zachary Schafer from the Maryland Department of the Environment (also a former US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Director) encouraged cities to tell the story of their investments and communicate the need for continued funding in their communities. He emphasized that there is strong, bipartisan interest in Washington to extend this investment, but lawmakers can only act when they hear directly from local leaders about the benefits these dollars bring and the ongoing needs they address.
Relationships matter.
After the Flint water crisis, Detroit wanted to build a program to ensure that residents had trust in their drinking water system by integrating lead service line replacement directly into the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Bryan Peckinpaugh from DWSD shared that the city secured $85 million in DWSRF financing to expand contractor capacity and create employee lead replacement crews to lower costs and maximize the impact of the SRF financing. Partner relationships were critical in the success of this initiative, which is why his advice to other cities was to build strong relationships with partners such as the EPA, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and with community leaders. Open communication and collaboration are key to project success.
Have your ducks in a row before you apply.
The City of Westminster, Maryland, faced a severe water crisis in 2002 after its reservoir dried up, leading to decades of water-use restrictions. To secure its future water supply, the city began developing PUREWater Westminster, the state’s first water reuse facility. The plant will treat wastewater effluent, improving drinking water standards and depositing the water into the city’s reservoir before distribution. The DWSRF helped finance the project, covering key design and facility planning costs as expenses rose. This support enabled the city to advance construction, with completion expected by 2027. Mayor Becker stressed how important it was that Westminster had all of their ducks in a row before applying to demonstrate that these funds will be used and the project will be completed.
Be proactive and connect with your state SRF program managers.
Issaquah, Washington, used the DWSRF to secure a $5 million, 20-year loan at 1.75% interest, which made it possible to build a water booster pump station. Mayor Pauly emphasized that it’s easy to reach out to state SRF managers, and cities should set up meetings to learn more about SRF financing and other state funding opportunities. Building those relationships and asking questions early helps cities better understand how to access and use DWSRF funds effectively.
Resources Shared During the Webinar and in Discussion: