Clean Water State Revolving Fund

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) provides low-interest financing to Michigan public entities to plan, design, and construct wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source pollution control infrastructure. Administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in partnership with the Michigan Finance Authority (MFA), the program's primary objective is to protect public health, preserve water resources, improve water quality across surface and ground waters, and foster climate-resilient community infrastructure.

To qualify and achieve priority on the annual Project Priority List (PPL), applicants must be recognized public entities under Michigan law. Applications are scored and ranked according to comprehensive criteria that evaluate water quality and public health impacts, environmental compliance, and community affordability. Projects designated as Overburdened or Significantly Overburdened receive priority ranking points, suppressed interest rates, and loan principal forgiveness. Loan recipients must adhere to federal and state cross-cutting requirements, including the Davis-Bacon Act wage standards, American Iron and Steel (AIS) provisions, Build America, Buy America (BABA) rules on equivalent projects, environmental reviews resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact, and development of an approvable Fiscal Sustainability Plan.

Eligible projects include publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) improvements, collection system rehabilitation, sewer separation, lift stations, pump stations, force main replacements, retention treatment basins, green stormwater infrastructure, energy and water efficiency projects eligible under the Green Project Reserve (GPR), decentralized municipal systems, and nonpoint source pollution control projects meeting Clean Water Act standards. Funding may also cover eligible asset management activities up to $2,000,000 per project.

The application process follows a multi-step timetable. Applicants must initiate the process by submitting an electronic Intent to Apply (ITA) form by November 1st (closing at 11:59 PM on November 1, 2026, for the funding cycle). An assigned EGLE project manager assists applicants through subsequent requirements, which include submitting an Overburdened Determination Survey and final project planning documents by May 1st. Scored projects within the fundable range on the annual Intended Use Plan priority list negotiate milestone schedules and subsequently submit formal loan applications, engineering specifications, and local debt authorizations leading up to one of several scheduled loan closing dates throughout the year.