Call for Applications: Drinking Water Projects to Support Increased Population in Georgia

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget is accepting applications for its Drinking Water Projects to Support Increased Population.

Donor Name: Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget

State: Georgia

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 09/09/2022

Size of the Grant: $400,000,000

Details:

The EPA regulation implementing the DWSRF program provides that projects needed primarily to serve future population growth are not eligible uses of the DWSRF. A project that is intended primarily to address public health or regulatory compliance issues for the existing service population may be sized for a ‘‘reasonable’’ amount of population growth over the useful life of the project.

ARPA does not include the same limitation as the SDWA. Accordingly, the final rule provides that recipients may use SLFRF funds for projects that are needed to support increased population in certain cases. ARPA limits projects to those investments that are ‘‘necessary.’’ As discussed above, Treasury interprets this to mean that the investments must be:

• responsive to an identified need to achieve or maintain an adequate minimum level of service, which for some eligible project categories may include a reasonable projection of increased need, whether due to population growth or otherwise and
• a cost-effective means for meeting that need, taking into account available alternatives.

For this eligible use category, expansion of drinking water service infrastructure, the project must also be projected to be sustainable over its estimated useful life.

Funding Information

$400,000,000 (this allocation is a planning amount and is subject to change)

Project Eligibility 

• Projects of the type that meet the eligibility requirements of 40 CFR 35.3520 other than the requirement of subparagraph (b)(1) of such regulation to address present or prevent future violations of health-based drinking water standards, if the following conditions are met:
  • The project is needed to support increased population, with need assessed as of the time the project is undertaken;
  • The project is designed to support no more than a reasonable level of projected increased need, whether due to population growth or otherwise;
  • The project is a cost-effective means for achieving the desired level of service; and
  • The project is projected to continue to provide an adequate level of drinking water over its estimated useful life
• Dams and reservoirs. Rehabilitation of dams and reservoirs if the following conditions are met:
  • The project meets the requirements of 40 CFR 35.3520 other than the following requirements:
    • The prohibition on the rehabilitation of dams and reservoirs in 40 CFR 35.3520(e)(1) and (3); and
    • The requirement in 40 CFR 35.3520(b)(1) that the project is needed to address present or prevent future violations of health-based drinking water standards, provided that if the dam or reservoir project does not meet this requirement, the project must be needed to support increased population, with need assessed as of the time the project is undertaken, and the project must be projected to continue to provide an adequate level of drinking water over its estimated useful life;
    • The primary purpose of the dam or reservoir is for drinking water supply;
    • The project is needed for the provision of drinking water supply, with need assessed as of the time the project is initiated;
    • The project is designed to support no more than a reasonable level of projected increased need, whether due to population growth or otherwise; and
    • The project is a cost-effective means for achieving the desired level of service.

Applicant Eligibility

• All ARPA applicants must have an organization, or subrecipient, that will serve as the fiduciary agent and assume overall responsibility for the grant. Eligible ARPA applicants include:
  • A unit of local government
  • County.

For more information, visit GOPB.