The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is pleased to announce $100 million of available ARPA funding to assist public drinking water systems across the Commonwealth of Virginia.  

VDH developed a list of potential waterworks construction projects based on agency knowledge of needs from inspections, sanitary surveys, enforcement and compliance activity, and technical assistance across the Commonwealth.  Project eligibility for ARPA projects are the same as for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) projects.  For more information on DWSRF eligibility, please review the DWSRF Eligibility Handbook | US EPA. 

To date, VDH has already approved and awarded 35 qualifying applications totaling $62,352,700.  Projects identified for funding include waterworks that: (1) serve fewer than 10,000 persons; (2) are disadvantaged, meaning that the annual water bill exceeds 1% of the median household income level for that community; (3) are abandoned, meaning that the owner of the waterworks has effectively stopped providing services; or (4) have acute or chronic violations of the Waterworks Regulations (12VAC5-590).  VDH uses the project area that will benefit from the project when determining whether a waterworks qualifies as disadvantaged.  VDH has prioritized projects to mitigate public health or other compliance concerns. 

VDH is now accepting applications for the remaining ARPA funding.  The application to apply for ARPA funding and other details about the previously awarded projects can be reviewed and downloaded at Drinking Water American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) - Drinking Water (virginia.gov).  VDH is also accepting comments on the ARPA projects previously awarded.  Please send applications, as well as comments, questions, and concerns on projects awarded to date, to vdh_drinkingwater@vdh.virginia.gov. 

ARPA funding is ONLY available to waterworks that have a population below 10,000 persons, or that are disadvantaged, abandoned, or have acute or chronic violations of the Waterworks Regulations, as described above.  Below are links that can provide additional information and help answer questions:  

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds | U.S. Department of the Treasury

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0550

https://www.nlc.org/covid-19-pandemic-response/american-rescue-plan-act/

This solicitation is running concurrently with the annual Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) solicitation.  You may find information about BIL and DWSRF funding and applications at https://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewNotice.cfm?gnid=2367.  Applications for ARPA funding, DWSRF funding, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding applications are all due by May 6, 2022.