Water quality grants and loans

We have information and resources for water quality-related funding opportunities, as well as tools needed to manage projects funded by our Water Quality funding programs.

Funding opportunities vary by funding source, funding category, and project type. With a single application process and funding list, we can create funding packages that meet the financial needs of project applicants.

For a useful tool to view and search some of our past and currently funded Water Quality projects, the Ecology Grants and Loans Map Viewer and Search Tool is now available. This allows search and viewing of information about not just Water Quality funded projects, but also many other Ecology funded projects throughout the state.


Water Quality Combined Funding program

The Water Quality Combined Funding program is the annual single-application process to apply for funding from multiple sources all at once, for eligible projects that benefit water quality.

The current funding cycle (State Fiscal Year 2025) open from Aug. 15, 2023 to Oct. 12, 2023. Information is available on the Water Quality Combined funding cycles page.

Sign up for our email list to get notified when guidelines are ready and Applicant Workshop links are available.

Funding sources of the Water Quality Combined Funding Program

Clean Water Act Section 319 federal grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides grants to Washington under Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act. The state is required to provide a 40 percent match in funding. The Section 319 grant program offers funding to eligible nonpoint source pollution control projects, similar to the state Centennial Clean Water Program.

Centennial Clean Water Program grants

To improve and protect water quality, the state Centennial Clean Water Program provides grants for water quality infrastructure and nonpoint source pollution projects. Eligible infrastructure projects are limited to wastewater treatment construction projects for financially distressed communities. Eligible nonpoint projects include stream restoration and buffers, on-site septic repair and replacement, education and outreach, and other eligible nonpoint activities.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans

Provided by the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is funded through an annual EPA capitalization grant, state matching funds, and principal and interest repayments on past program loans. The CWSRF program provides low-interest and forgivable principal loan funding for wastewater treatment construction projects, eligible nonpoint source pollution control projects, and eligible "green" projects.

The CWSRF includes limited funding for some emergencies.  Emergency funding is only available to public bodies serving a population of 10,000 or fewer people and projects where a local emergency has been declared.  Information on the program is available in the CWSRF Emergency Funding Program Guidelines or by contacting Eliza Keeley-Arnold (contact information below).

Stormwater Financial Assistance Program grants

The Stormwater Financial Assistance Program (SFAP) is designed to fund stormwater projects and activities that have proven effective at reducing impacts from existing infrastructure and development and enhance existing stormwater programs. Stormwater facility projects and a limited set of stormwater activities project types are eligible for SFAP funding. 

On-site Sewage Systems program (OSS)

This program provides funds to local governments to set up low-interest loan programs to repair or replace failing on-site sewage systems. Property owners unable to qualify for conventional bank loans and marine waterfront property owners can use the program to get loans to fix or replace their systems where failures might directly affect Puget Sound. Both the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Centennial Clean Water Program provide funding for this program:

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loans can be used by counties and cities to loan money to qualified land owners to repair or replace their failing on-site sewage systems.
  • Centennial Clean Water Program grant funds can help defray some of the operating costs and lending risks for these programs. Local governments can grant funds to cover operating costs for the program, provide small grants to property owners, and establish a loan-loss reserve account to cover their obligations should a property owner default on a loan.

More information is available on our OSS page.  

Other funding programs