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.
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
Sofia Licht: Email or phone (207) 441-3217
Resources
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
Sofia Licht: Email or phone (207) 441-3217
Resources
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
Eduard Chenette: Email or phone (207) 592-0456
Resources
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 - [LINK to 3.5.1.15.3 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
Sofia Licht: Email or phone (207) 441-3217
Resources
- Very Small System Capacity Development Grant Application (PDF)
- Very Small System Capacity Development Grant Reimbursement Request Forms (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
Eduard Chenette: Email or phone (207) 592-0456
Resources
Very Small System Total Coliform Grants
Grant money available to Community and not-for-profit Non-Community 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
Community and not-for-profit Non-Community 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 achieve compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act standards
Funds Available
Up to $10,000 per grant
Contact
Sofia Licht: Email or phone (207) 441-3217
Resources
- Very Small System Total Coliform Grant Application (PDF)
- Very Small System Total Coliform Grant Reimbursement Form (PDF)
Water System Asset Security Grants
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
Sofia Licht: Email or phone (207) 441-3217
Resources
- PFAS Grants
Small Disadvantaged Community Emerging Contaminant Grants
Grants to small or disadvantaged community systems to address PFAS contamination.
Eligibility
Community public water systems with either a population of less than 10,000 or that meet the definition of a disadvantaged community.
Description
Grants will be awarded to water systems seeking assistance with PFAS contamination issues -- adding treatment, drilling a new well, consolidating with another water system, or extending water main(s) to private wells containing PFAS.
Funds Available
Up to $250,000 toward the total project cost. 90% funding of any additional needs is also available, up to a maximum grant of $4M.
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
Small Public Water System Emerging Contaminants Grants
Grants to small Community or Non-Transient, Non-Community public water systems to address PFAS contamination issues.
Eligibility
Community (not PUC-regulated) public water systems; NTNC (non-transient, non-community) school or daycare public water systems
Description
Grants will be awarded to water systems seeking assistance with PFAS contamination issues.
Funds Available
Eligible project costs up to $50,000, with an additional $10,000 for engineering expenses
Contact
Eduard Chenette: Email or phone (207) 592-0456
Resources
- Small Public Water System Emerging Contaminant Grant Requirements and Documents (PDF)
- Small Public Water System Emerging Contaminant Grant Application (PDF)
Emerging Contaminant Grants (Larger Systems)
Grants to Community or Non-Transient, Non-Community public water systems to address PFAS contamination issues.
Eligibility
Community public water systems; NTNC (non-transient, non-community) school or daycare public water systems
Description
Grants will be awarded to water systems seeking assistance with PFAS contamination issues where costs exceed $60,000.
Funds Available
Up to $4,000,000 per grant per year. SRF financing may be used for additional needs.
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
- Emerging Contaminant Grant (Larger Systems) Application (DWSRF Eligible)
Emerging Contaminant Consolidation Grants
Grants to Community and NTNC public water systems to address PFAS contamination and allow consolidation with a municipal PWS that does not have a PFAS exceedance.
Eligibility
All Community and NTNC Public Water Systems with PFAS levels above the proposed Federal MCL of 4-ppt.
Description
Funding to assist with costs of a water main extension to consolidate a small community or NTNC with a municipal PWS that does not have a PFAS exceedance.
Funds Available
50% of project cost up to $2M.
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
- Emerging Contaminant Consolidation Grant Application (DWSRF Eligible). Additional funding is not available through SRF loans.
Very Small System Emerging Contaminant Planning Grants
Grants to very small Community or Non-Transient, Non-Community public water systems to study and assess PFAS contamination issues.
Eligibility
Community (population <100) public water systems; NTNC (non-transient, non-community) school or daycare public water systems
Description
Grant to study and assess alternative sources or to aid in selecting the appropriate course of treatment.
Funds Available
Up to $30,000 per grant.
Contact
Eduard Chenette: Email or phone (207) 592-0456
Resources
- Very Small System Emerging Contaminant Planning Grant Application (PDF)
- Very Small System Emerging Contaminant Planning Grant Reimbursement Request (PDF)
Emerging Contaminant Planning Grants
Grants to Community public water systems to study and assess PFAS contamination issues.
Eligibility
Community public water systems with a population greater than 100.
Description
Grant to study and assess alternative sources or to aid in selecting the appropriate course of treatment.
Funds Available
Up to $200,000.
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
- Emerging Contaminant Planning Grant Application (DWSRF Eligible)
Water Main Extension to Private Wells Containing PFAS
Grants to Community public water systems for extending distribution areas to homes with PFAS-contaminated wells.
Eligibility
Community public water systems.
Description
Grants will be awarded to water systems seeking to extend their distribution systems to private homes with PFAS-contaminated wells.
Funds Available
Up to $250,000 toward the total project cost. 50% funding of any additional needs is also available, up to a maximum grant of $2M.
Contact
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources
- 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
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
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
Sofia Licht: Email or phone (207) 441-3217
Resources
Lead Service Line Project Loans
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
Greg Connors: Email or phone (207) 592-3409
Resources
Project Capital Improvements Loans
Financing for infrastructure improvements needed for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and to protect public health
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
McKenzie Parker: Email or phone (207) 557-2255
Resources