Wisconsin DNR announces $484 million to improve wastewater infrastructure

KEWAUNEE COUNTY – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in collaboration with Governor Tony Evers, has announced more than $484 million has been allocated for financial assistance through the Clean Water Fund Program to 82 Wisconsin municipalities across the state to improve wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The funding will help municipalities construct vital infrastructure projects, including those that reduce phosphorus discharges and address aging equipment.

“Ensuring every Wisconsinite has access to safe, clean drinking water has been a priority of mine since day one, and thanks to programs like the Clean Water Fund, we’re able to support Wisconsin municipalities in their work to ensure our water infrastructure meets the needs of our kids, families and neighborhoods,” said Gov. Evers. “By providing a reliable and stable way to ensure each municipality’s water infrastructure receives the upgrades it needs, we’re working to effectively address and prevent harmful contaminants so that every Wisconsinite can trust the water coming out of their tap.”

The Clean Water Fund Program provides affordable financial assistance to municipalities throughout Wisconsin for wastewater and water quality-related stormwater infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations. Since the program began in 1991, the DNR and the Wisconsin Department of Administration have provided over $6.5 billion in financial assistance to Wisconsin municipalities. Additional information about the Clean Water Fund Program can be found at www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/EIF.html.

Through this round of funding, the DNR is allocating $438 million in subsidized loans and $46 million in principal forgiveness funding to support wastewater improvement projects. The Clean Water Fund Program subsidizes municipalities to buy down the market rate on program loans (low-interest rate loans). The principal forgiveness funding is comparable to a grant because the municipality will not have to repay those funds.

The funds will be awarded to municipalities over the next year and disbursed as eligible costs are incurred. A portion of the funding comes from federal capitalization grants, including:

• Base Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $42,891,000;

• Supplemental Clean Water Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding: $66,599,000; and

• Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) Clean Water BIL funding: $8,276,000.

In addition to increasing borrowing for the state’s Environmental Improvement Fund, the 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers includes $2 million for the development of a remedial action plan for the remediation of arsenic-contaminated sediment in the Kewaunee Marsh, $7.5 million for contaminated sediment removal from sites in the Great Lakes or its tributaries that are on Wisconsin’s impaired waters list and more than $12 million to support county conservation staff around the state.