Eligible Water Systems
The following types of drinking water systems are eligible to apply for funding:
- Publicly and privately owned community systems (e.g., cities, towns, mobile home parks, ports)
- 25+ users or 15+ service connections by year-round residents.
- Publicly and privately owned non-profit non-community systems (e.g., schools, parks, campgrounds, churches)
- 25+ users served to non-residents throughout a year. The non-profit entity can be government owned or is recognized under Oregon law as a non-profit organization.
- Community water systems created by the project.
For more information regarding eligibility and program details, see the 
Safe Drinking Water Program Guidelines and Handbook.
Background
Each federal fiscal year, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a federal grant application process to make funds available to states for the DWSRF. Oregon's grant request process begins by identifying and collecting information about current Oregon drinking water system project improvement needs statewide.
The 7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA) illustrates these detailed needs from national and individual state perspectives. For information, visit EPA's 7th DWINSA web page.
To apply for funding, drinking water systems submit information about their proposed drinking water projects in a SDWRLF Letter of Interest (LOI). The LOI is used to gather detailed information about a proposed drinking water project including information about the water supply, water quality problem(s), water system's finances, readiness-to-proceed, proposed solution, and estimated cost.
The state reviews and prioritizes the funding requests, creating a Project Priority List (PPL). The PPL is included in the State's Intended Use Plan (IUP), which is provided each year to EPA for approval. The IUP demonstrates how Oregon intends to use its appropriated grant award. Once EPA has reviewed and approved the IUP, the federal funds may then begin to be released.
Investment Reports show which communities have received funding over the past few years. Select fiscal year links and scroll to "Safe Drinking Water Fund" to view DWSRF-funded drinking water project activities throughout Oregon.