Since the passage
of the Clean Water Act, great progress has been made toward restoring the
nation's waters. States, local governments, nonprofit organizations and
others will continue to find financial assistance through flexible federal
programs that are designed to address current and future water pollution
control challenges.
Today, the Clean Water
State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is recognized as the most successful
federal water quality funding program in the nation's history. The CWSRF
program, which replaced the Construction Grants
program, provides funding for the construction of municipal wastewater
facilities and implementation of nonpoint source pollution control and
estuary protection projects. Other wastewater management related funding
is available through Water Pollution Control
Program Grants for states, Water Quality
Cooperative Agreements for states, municipalities and others, and
Clean Water Indian Program Grants. EPA also
provides assistance when communities wish to explore the privatization
of wastewater facilities.
Other Funding Sources
Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund: Similar
in structure to the CWSRF, 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water
Act established the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to provide funds
for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. Emphasis
is placed on funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs
that encourage pollution prevention.
Environmental
Finance Program: Through the Chief Financial Officer, the Environmental
Finance Program assists communities in their search for creative approaches
to funding their environmental projects. The Environmental Finance Team
provides financial technical assistance to the regulated community and
advice and recommendations to the Agency on environmental finance issues.
Funding
for Nonpoint Source Pollution: For information on funding sources
for nonpoint source pollution and watershed protection projects.
Other
Federal Funding Resources: 
For information on water quality funding sources beyond EPA's programs
including funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the US Department
of Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
Federal Highway Administration, and the US Geological Survey.
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