Water

State Revolving Fund - Drinking Water

If you would like to be notified by email of future IUPs, comprehensive priority lists, or revisions to the priority ranking system, please email Sheila Watts at wattssg@dhec.sc.gov.

What Is the DWSRF Program?

The State Revolving Fund is a long-term debt-financing program offered by the State of South Carolina to provide low-interest loans to communities for construction of drinking water facilities. The SRF is sponsored by EPA under authority of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Who may apply?

Municipalities, counties and special purpose districts. The DWSRF is also available to non-profit corporations established under 33-36-10et seq of the S.C. Code

How can DWSRF loans be used?

Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the DWSRF offers financing to projects necessary to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act and protect public health such as:

Upgrade of a surface water treatment system
Adding new wells
Interconnecting systems
Adding treatment or storage components

What is the application and approval process?

Applicant (sponsor) must submit a project questionnaire to DHEC.
DHEC will review project questionnaire to determine project eligibility. If eligible, it will be ranked in accordance with the DWSRF Integrated Prioirty Ranking System and placed on the State's Comprehensive Priority List. Annually the department will develop a Drinking Water Intended Use Plan identifying projects expected to receive loans for the upcoming fiscal year. Once a project has been identified, the department and the SC Budget and Control Board will contact the sponsor to discuss the permitting and loan application requirements.
The first step in the permitting process is the submission of a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). The PER will be reviewed by an SRF project manager, who will work closely with the consulting engineer preparing the PER. Refer to the DWSRF PER guidance document for more detailed information.
Before the PER can be approved, either a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) and a 30-day public notice period must elapse, or a Categorical Exclusion (CE) must be issued for the project.
Once the PER has received approval, a construction permit application must be submitted. Refer to the Permit Guidance Package for more detailed information. After the project is reviewed and all requirements have been met, a construction permit will be issued for the project.

What is the bidding and contract process?

For a detailed description of bidding and award of contract requirements, refer to the Bidding and Award of Construction Contract Guidance Package. Project Construction Summary (DHEC Form 3589) must also be submitted during this process. The Construction Contracts Guidance Package provides information to assist SRF project sponsors, consulting engineers, and project contractors to better understand the requirements of the construction contract, the responsibilities of the sponsor as defined in the loan agreement, and the roles of the sponsor, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the SC Budget and Control Board (BCB) and the consulting engineer.

What are the federal requirements of the SRF Program?

There are a number of Federal laws, executive orders and government-wide policies that cut across all programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance, regardless of whether the statute authorizing the assistance specifies applicability. Since Federal capitalization grant funds are used to seed the State Revolving Fund, any money received through the SRF program is subject to these Federal "cross-cutting authorities". As an example, the environmental evaluation section covered in the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) guideline stems from environmental authorities such as the Endangered Species Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Federal Requirements for the SRF Program Guidance Package for more detailed information, or the Contractor's Version of the Federal Requirements for the SRF Program Guidance Package.

Preaward Compliance Review Report for All Applicants Requesting Federal Financial Assistance (EPA form 4700-4)(pdf)

Certification Regarding Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (DHEC Form 3594) (pdf)

Prime Contractor's Subagreement Certification (DHEC Form 3591) (pdf)

MBE/WBE Utilization Under Federal Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Interagency Agreements (EPA Form 5700-52A) (pdf)

Certification of Proposed Prime or Subcontractor Regarding Equal Employment Opportunity (DHEC Form 3592) (pdf)

Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters (DHEC Form 3590) (pdf)

Who may I contact for a list of DBEs?

Office of Small Minority Business Assistance

Office of the Governor
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 418 Columbia,
South Carolina 29201
Telephone:(803)734-0657

South Carolina Department of Transportation

Office of Compliance, Room 403
Post Office Box 191 Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Telephone: (803)737-1372
South Carolina Statewide Minority Business Development Center
2111 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Telephone:(803)779-5905

Other SRF publications and forms

Bureau of Water . Phone: (803) 898-4300 . Fax: (803) 898-4215 . Contact Us