The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program is a federal loan program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It helps eligible borrowers finance water infrastructure projects. Public agencies considering a major project can review the official WIFIA program page for current guidance and application materials.
What it funds
WIFIA supports eligible water infrastructure projects. The program can help communities address funding challenges through loans. Project eligibility and loan terms depend on EPA's current program requirements. Owners should confirm that their proposed work qualifies before building a financing plan around WIFIA.
Who applies
Eligible borrowers include public entities, private entities, and state revolving fund (SRF) borrowers. The project owner or other eligible borrower applies to EPA. A civil engineering consultant may help an agency prepare project materials, but the agency remains responsible for its application and financing decisions.
Award size and funding available
WIFIA provides loans, not grants. The EPA page reports program-level results, including $24 billion in WIFIA financing and $53 billion in projects supported. Those figures describe the program's reported impact, not the amount available to a particular applicant or a promise of future funding.
EPA's page says it is accepting Letters of Interest and directs applicants to learn about available funding. Loan size, terms, and current funding availability should be checked on the official program page and in its application materials.
Cycle and current status
EPA is accepting Letters of Interest for WIFIA loans, according to the supplied program page. It also provides Letters of Interest and application materials for public, private, and SRF borrowers. Check the official page for the current submission process, deadlines, and any updates before preparing an application. The page lists announcements about loan closings and a fee waiver for small communities; confirm the current details with EPA.
How consultants win the design work
Agencies apply to WIFIA. Consultants are selected separately by the owner through qualifications-based selection (QBS) when applicable. An agency may seek consultant support for planning, benefit-cost analysis, and grant-writing support where allowed. If the project advances, the owner may also procure design and construction-phase services.
Procurement rules apply. Consultants should follow the agency's solicitation and applicable requirements, and owners should confirm which rules govern each service. WIFIA funding does not itself award a design contract or select a consultant.
What owners should do now
- Review EPA's eligibility information and confirm whether the borrower and proposed project fit the program.
- Check the official program page for current funding availability, application materials, submission instructions, and deadlines.
- Develop the project scope and financing plan, including the information needed for a Letter of Interest.
- Plan consultant procurements under applicable QBS and other procurement requirements, and confirm what grant-writing support is allowed.
Official program page: https://www.epa.gov/wifia. Check it for current notices of funding opportunity before advising a client.
