DOVER, DE, April 27, 2015 -- The Delaware Department of Natural Resources' (DNREC) Financial Assistance Branch has announced that it is now accepting asset management proposals from county and municipal governments for a new Wastewater and Drinking Water Asset Management Incentive Program. The new program provides wastewater and drinking water asset management incentive program participants an opportunity to receive funding to develop and implement asset management plans for their facilities.
To receive financial incentives, municipal governments must sign a five-year agreement with DNREC and the Department of Health and Social Services. The agreement will require the development and implementation of system-wide asset management plans for wastewater and/or drinking water utilities. The plan must be consistent with the five steps of the Environmental Protection Agency's framework for asset management: 1) current state of assets, 2) level of service, 3) critical assets, 4) minimum lifecycle cost, and 5) long-term funding plan.
Financial incentives for the program include up to $100,000 no-match required grant per municipality to develop and implement an asset management program (up to $200,000 for wastewater and drinking water); and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan interest rebates -- up to one-half of the interest paid on new SRF loans will be rebated back for up to five years after completion of projects (from loan amortization start dates).
The program will be funded from the respective Non-Federal Administrative Accounts for CWSRF and DWSRF programs. Submittals will be recommended for funding by the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council (WIAC) through a first-come, first-served basis, based on receipt of an approved application meeting all requirements. Applications for the program must be received by close of business (4:30 p.m.) May 28.
See also:
"DNREC now collecting grant proposals for wastewater, surface water project planning"
"DNREC now accepting applications for 2015 youth rain barrel painting contest"
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