Financial Resources
Page Index
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
Grants
PFAS Grants
Loans
The Drinking Water Program has a number of funding programs available to help public water systems improve operations and management. Click on the links below for more information about each funding program available, or open this table (PDF) for a summary of all the funding programs currently available.
Additionally, the DWP is preparing these new grant programs that will be available soon:
- Emerging Contaminants (larger systems)
- Emerging Contaminant Planning
- Very Small System Emerging Contaminant Planning
- Water Main Extension to Private Wells Containing PFAS
Grant details and applications coming soon!
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is a State-operated program that provides funding to public water systems throughout Maine to improve or replace water system pipes, treatment plants, storage tanks, and sources of water. Funding for drinking water infrastructure improvement projects is available as low interest loans. Disadvantaged Community Water Systems may receive further assistance through principal forgiveness.
A portion of the DWSRF is used to fund non-construction projects that help improve and protect drinking water quality in Maine. These funding options include grants for source water and wellhead protection, system asset security, capacity development, and land acquisition (see below).
Click here to learn more about the DWSRF.
Grants
Capacity Development Grants – Grant money available to public water systems to enhance system capacity.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems.
Description
Grants are for Capacity Development assistance. Systems can receive grants for the preparation of documents that will assist them in the maintenance or enhancement of water quality by identifying possible improvements in systems technical, financial and managerial operations (capacity development).
Funds Available
Please see application for this year’s available funds.
Contact
Sara Flanagan: Email or phone (207) 441-9371
Resources
Capacity Development Grant Application (PDF)
Capacity Development Grant Reimbursement Form (PDF)
Lead Service Line Inventory Assistance Grants – Grants for Community or Non-Transient, Non-Community water systems to assist with lead service line inventory activities.
Eligibility
Community and NTNC (non-transient, non-community) public water systems
Description
Grants will be awarded to water systems seeking assistance with lead service line inventory activities
Funds Available
See application
Contact
Bill Dawson: Email or phone (207) 274-9003
Resources
Lead Service Line Inventory Assistance Grant Application (PDF)
Sanitary Seal Well Cap Program – Program to partially fund the installation of sanitary well caps for public water systems without sanitary well seal caps on their groundwater well sources. This program will be ending on July 1, 2023.
Eligibility
Public Water Systems without sanitary well seal caps on their groundwater source.
Description
Public Water Systems (PWS) without sanitary seal well caps are eligible for reimbursement for up to 75% of the cost of the installation (up to $250 per PWS) of a locking sanitary seal well cap under this program. Payment shall be made on a reimbursement basis, after the Drinking Water Program (DWP) has verified that the PWS has properly installed a sanitary seal well cap. Qualifying costs are limited to the purchase and installation of a locking sanitary seal well cap of an approved design by the DWP.
Funds Available
Up to 75% of the cost of installation, up to $250 per PWS
Contact
Sara Flanagan: Email or phone (207) 441-9371
Resources
Sanitary Seal Well Cap Program (PDF)
Source Protection Grant Program – Grants for the protection of public drinking water sources, available to community or non-profit, non-community public water systems using surface water and groundwater.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems with surface water and groundwater source(s).
Description
Grants will be awarded to projects that demonstrate a commitment to the ongoing protection of a system’s drinking water source. Sources may either be groundwater (wellhead) or surface water.
Funds Available
Please see application for this year’s available funds.
Contact
Ashley Hodge: Email or phone (207) 822-2341
Resources
Source Protection Grant Application (PDF)
Source Protection Grant Reimbursement Form (PDF)
System Consolidation Grants – Partial funding (grant money) available to water systems for the purpose of consolidation with another water system.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems with a technical, managerial, or financial capacity issue that will be
addressed by the consolidation with the more viable public water system.
Description
Water systems with a technical, managerial or financial capacity issue can receive partial funding to consolidate with a more viable public water system to enhance system capacity and de-regulate an existing public water system.
Funds Available
No more than 50% of the cost of the water system consolidation for For-Profit water systems.
No more than 75% of the cost of the water system consolidation for Non-Profit water systems.
Grants may not exceed $150,000
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
System Consolidation Grant Application (PDF)
Very Small System Capacity Development Grants – Grant money available to public water systems with a population of 100 or less to enhance system capacity.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems that serve 100 or fewer people.
Description
Grants are for Capacity Development assistance. Systems can receive grants for the preparation of documents that will assist them in the maintenance or enhancement of water quality by identifying possible improvements in systems technical, financial and managerial operations (capacity development).
Funds Available
Please see application for this year's available funds.
Contact
Sara Flanagan: Email or phone (207) 441-9371
Resources
Very Small System Capacity Development Grant Application (PDF)
Very Small System Capacity Development Grant Reimbursement Request (PDF)
Very Small System Compliance Loan Fund – 100% principal forgiveness loans for water treatment improvements required to achieve compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act standards (excluding the Total Coliform Rule)
Eligibility
Community systems (except those regulated by the Public Utilities Commission) with a population of 100 or less, and all not-for-profit, non-transient, non-community public water systems
Description
This loan program provides 100 percent principal forgiveness (or grant amount) for water treatment improvements required to achieve compliance with a current or future standard of the Safe Drinking Water Act, excluding the Total Coliform Rule
Funds Available
Up to $50,000 per project
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
Very Small System Compliance Loan Fund Application (PDF)
Very Small System Total Coliform Grants – Grant money available to public water systems with a population of 100 or less to install a continuous chlorination disinfection system that is needed to achieve compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
Eligibility
Groundwater systems with a population of 100 or less.
Description
This grant program provides funding to install a continuous chlorination disinfection when it is necessary to acheive compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act standards
Funds Available
Up to $10,000 per grant
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
Very Small System Total Coliform Grant Application (PDF)
Very Small System Total Coliform Grant Reimbursement Form (PDF)
Water System Asset Security Grant – Grants to community or non-profit, non-community public water systems for planning or implementing security measures to protect water system assets.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems
Description
Systems can receive a grant to plan and/or implement security measures to protect water system assets.
Funds Available
Please see application for this year’s available funds.
Contact
Ashley Hodge: Email or phone (207) 822-2341
Resources
Water System Asset Security Grant Application (PDF)
Water System Asset Security Grant Reimbursement Forms (PDF): 2022 | 2023
Outstanding Wellhead & Source Water Protection Grants – Open grants to community or non-profit, non-community public water systems using groundwater to protect public drinking water sources.
Description
Systems who currently have open Wellhead or Source Water Protection grants may find appropriate reimbursement documents for their grants below. The Wellhead Protection and Source Water Protection grant programs have merged into the Source Protection Grant program starting in 2023.
Contact
Ashley Hodge: Email or phone (207) 822-2341
Resources
Wellhead Protection Grant Reimbursement Form (PDF)
Source Water Protection Grant Reimbursement Form (PDF)
PFAS Grants
Small Public Water System Emerging Contaminant Grant – Grants to Community or Non-Transient, Non-Community water systems to address PFAS contamination issues.
Eligibility
Community (not PUC-regulated) and NTNC (non-transient, non-community) public water systems
Description
Grants will be awarded to water systems seeking assistance with PFAS contamination issues.
Funds Available
Eligible project costs up to $50K, with an additional $10K for engineering expenses
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
Small Public Water System Emerging Contaminant Grant Requirements and Documents (PDF)
Small Public Water System Emerging Contaminant Grant Application (PDF)
Loans
Emergency Construction Fund – Loans for water systems where recent unexpected events pose a serious threat to health and welfare.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems
Description
Loans for unexpected events where public health and welfare are at risk. The DWP reserves the right of discretion to determine what constitutes an emergency. Projects must meet eligibility criteria for DWSRF projects but do not need to be on the Project Priority List.
Funds Available
No project limit, based on available funds at time of request. Not eligible for principal forgiveness.
Contact
Bill Dawson: Email or phone (207) 274-9003
Land Acquisition Loans – Low interest loans to community or non-profit, non-community public water systems for purchase or legal control of drinking water source protection areas.
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems
Description
Low interest loans for the purchase of land and/or conservation easements needed for source water protection
Funds Available
No project limit, based on available funds at time of loan application
Contact
Ashley Hodge: Email or phone (207) 822-2341
Resources
Land Acquisition Loan Application (PDF)
Land Acquisition Loan Fact Sheet (PDF)
Lead Service Line Project Loan – Loans to build lead service line inventories, replace lead service lines, or do galvanized replacements.
Eligibility
Community public water systems
Description
Loans to build a lead service line inventory
Funds Available
No project limit, based on available funds at time of request. 0% interest loan, with 55% principal forgiveness.
Contact
Bill Dawson: Email or phone (207) 274-9003
Project Capital Improvements Loan – Financing for infrastructure improvements needed for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and to protect public health. Applications for Project Capital Improvements Loans are due by September 29, 2023
Eligibility
Community and non-profit, non-community public water systems
Description
Loans for projects that will help systems maintain the health objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Projects are ranked on a point system and additional points will be given for legal requirements necessitating a project, compatibility with previously identified needs, and availability of co-funding with other funding agencies.
Funds Available
Low interest loans. Partial Principal Forgiveness is possible based on MHI and water rates for Economically Disadvantaged Communities.
Contact
Bill Dawson: Email or phone (207) 274-9003
Updated 5/26/2023
