Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Announces Drinking and Wastewater Funding Opportunities for 2026

October 16, 2024 Sandra Kinney # Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Announces Drinking and Wastewater Funding Opportunities for 2026

(BOISE, ID) – The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is announcing fiscal year 2026 funding opportunities for Idaho’s drinking water and wastewater systems.

Funding will be used to assist eligible public drinking water and wastewater systems with facility planning projects and help entities build or repair existing systems and treatment facilities. Eligible drinking water applicants include all community public water systems and nonprofit non-community systems. Eligible wastewater applicants include governmental entities and nonprofit corporations.

Funding Availability

DEQ has several funding opportunities available:

State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loans

SRF loans provide low-interest funding for up to 100% of design and construction costs for drinking water and wastewater facilities. SRF loans also offer below-market interest rates, often under 2%.

Planning Grants

Planning grants are available to help systems cover the cost of preparing facility planning documents and environmental reviews. These grants cover 50% of eligible costs.

Supplemental Funding

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding is available to address emerging contaminants and drinking water lead service line replacement.

Application Process and Deadline

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest—also known as an LOI—detailing the need for funding electronically to grants.loans@deq.idaho.gov for each funding opportunity. LOI forms are available on DEQ’s Grants and Loans web page. Completed LOIs are due by January 10, 2025.

DEQ will evaluate and rank responses for inclusion on the annual priority lists. LOI forms that receive the highest ratings will be invited to submit grant or loan applications. Priority lists will be shared with the public for review and comments mid-April 2025.

Training Opportunities

DEQ will host a training opportunity to assist with the application process and give an update for the fiscal year 2026 funding outlook. Attendance is free but pre-registration is required. The virtual workshop is scheduled for November 4, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. MDT. Register here .

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