State Revolving Funds for Stormwater Infrastructure

This is not an article about why water and wastewater utilities should consider a public-private partnership (P3) to deliver urban stormwater infrastructure projects. As you surely know, a P3 appeals to many municipalities for their ability to leverage private sector expertise and efficiencies — and shoulder financial risk — for delivery of what would traditionally be a public sector project.

Instead, this is an article about how an alternative contracting approach with a private partner can deliver more financial value and long term sustainability for your stormwater program, by securing new sources of funding, such as State Revolving Funds. My recent experiences illuminate this approach: The Clean Water Partnership has applied to become the first-ever stormwater P3 to obtain financing through a private partner by leveraging State Revolving Funds (SRF). First, I’ll give some background on the Clean Water Partnership, and then I’ll share why accessing this funding stream is so significant both for our project and potentially for your work too.