Project Scoring Criteria Determines How Municipal Sewer and Wastewater Projects Are Scored and Ranked to Access State and Federal Funding

Incentivizes Projects that Bolster Resiliency, Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change, Strengthen Cybersecurity for Public Wastewater Utilities, and Take Septic Tanks Out of Service

Public Hearing is Scheduled on February 10

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation is accepting public comments on proposed changes to the project scoring criteria for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The proposed changes would modernize the scoring system that prioritizes sewer and wastewater projects for low-cost funding. This action delivers on the comprehensive water quality and resiliency agenda in Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State to safeguard public health and protect the environment.

“The State Revolving Funds serve a critical role in advancing New York’s clean water goals, and the proposed changes to the scoring system reflect the needs that the water sector is facing now and into the future,” EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said. “Modernizing the scoring system will help ensure that financial assistance from the State Revolving Funds is focused on the communities and projects that address the most pressing water infrastructure needs.”

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund provides financing at below-market rates, empowering communities to undertake critical sewer and wastewater projects at a much lower cost than traditional financing. Eligible projects may qualify for additional financial benefits including grants and interest-free financing. EFC annually publishes an Intended Use Plan to list all project funding requests. Each project is assigned a score based on various factors including its water quality benefit and the project’s impact to the community. EFC allocates funds to priority projects based on the project’s score, which also assesses financial need.

The proposed changes to the scoring system seek to further incentivize municipalities to address the following:

• Enhancing resiliency, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and advancing the state’s goal of strengthening water infrastructure and protecting New Yorkers from flooding and other impacts of extreme weather.
• Strengthening cybersecurity, addressing the urgent need to safeguard the water sector’s IT infrastructure from increased cyber threats that have the potential to disrupt critical services and impose significant costs on affected communities.
• Taking septic tanks out of service in favor of environmentally effective systems.
• Adopting asset management plans, a process that supports effective management of infrastructure investments including defined procedures to inventory, assess, and track infrastructure throughout its lifecycle, improving its longevity, and supporting municipal planning.

The public is encouraged to comment on the proposed revised criteria, which are available on EFC’s website. Public comments on the proposed rule changes are due in writing by 5 p.m. on February 18. Submit comments to General Counsel and Secretary to the Board Henrik Westin at CWSRFinfo@efc.ny.gov with “Regulation Comments” in the subject line.

Additionally, a public hearing is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m., or until public testimony is complete, on February 10 at the first-public assembly room of 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207.

New York’s Commitment to Water Quality

New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2024 alone. Governor Hochul’s State of the State expanded EFC’s Community Assistance Teams to help small, rural and disadvantaged communities leverage funding and address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community needing assistance with water infrastructure projects is encouraged to contact EFC.