Nebraska State Revolving Fund (SRF) Walkthrough

Follow our step-by-step checklist for simplified steps to apply for SRFs to help complete your water or wastewater project. 

For more information, please contact: NDEE Financial Assistance Section (402) 471-4200.
Email: ndee.srf@nebraska.gov

Step-by-Step Checklist

Step 1: Submit a Needs Survey
  • Complete and submit the biennial (every other year) Combined Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF Needs Survey to the state. (This survey is mailed to communities every fall, and is due by December 31st. The state uses this information to develop an Intended Use Plan, which is a detailed prioritization of projects.)

    (Note: A Preliminary Engineering Report is not needed at this step, however, one will be needed for the following steps.)
Step 2: Develop a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER)
  • Hire a professional engineer registered in Nebraska.
  • For a list of engineers, visit NDEE's Consultant Directory.
  • Develop an engineering report showing that present and future conditions and environmental impacts have been reviewed, alternative design approaches have been identified and assessed, and the best affordable alternative has been selected.
  • Funding may be available for engineering services under the Project Planning Activities & Report Grant (PPAR)
Step 3: Submit a Joint Water/Wastewater Pre-Application / WWAC Pre-Application
Step 4: Identify alternative financing
Step 5: Gather Support

Develop community support for the proposed water works improvements. Managers should communicate the need for new facilities to residents, identify how the selected approach is well-suited for the community, and implement a user fee system to cover facility costs.

Step 6: Receiving SRF Funds
  • Loan Rates - for interest rates and administrative fees, see the Joint Water/Wastewater Pre-Application for more information.
  • Term Limits - maximum of 30-year term limit on all financial assistance to be determined by the NDEE and borrower in compliance with federal and state regulations. See subsection C. Terms, under section IV of the 2023 IUP for more information.
  • Planning Loans - maximum of five-year term. An annual fee up to 0.5% may be charged to meet long-term administrative costs.
  • Refinancing - only available to debts incurred after March 7, 1985. Refinanced interest rate and administrative fee will be at the current rates identified in the most current IUP. You may refinance once every ten years and there must be at least ten years of payment left to refinance a loan. Refinanced projects are ineligible for loan forgiveness or grants.
  • Emergency Loan Assistance - considered in relation to catastrophic failure of existing facilities, environmental and/or public health threat, or for unforeseen threats of contamination. See Title 131, Chapter 2, section 006 for more information. Title 131 Rules and Regulations for the Wastewater Treatment Facilities and Drinking Water construction assistance programs
Step 7: Post Award Administration
  • Administrative fees - calculated semiannually and billed when loan principal and interest payments are due. This fee is applied to all loans per Title 131 and the loan agreement. The loan principal does not include an annual fee up to 1%, charged against the outstanding principal on construction loans and up to 0.5% for planning loans.
  • For an in-depth understanding of CWSRF Interest rates and administrative fees, see the Joint Water/Wastewater Pre-Application.
  • Delinquent Payment Penalty - A 5% administrative penalty will be assessed on any payments not received within 15 days of the due date. Delinquent payments will accrue penalty interest at the rate of 1% per month on the amount of delinquent payment form and after the due date until it is paid.
  • Audits and Reporting - see subsection J. Audits and Reporting, EPA, and Environmental Requirements in Section 4 of the IUP.

WWAC Pre-Application Procedure

Each pre-application will be reviewed by WWAC as follows:

  1. Submit one (1) electronic original of the pre-application and Facility Plan (FP) / PER to WWAC@nebraska.gov. (The preapplication and guide for writing a PER [Preliminary Engineering Report] is found in the complete document.)
  2. Upon receipt, all WWAC members receive a copy of the pre-application and FP/PER. Incomplete pre-applications will not be considered until all information is received. Upon receipt a WWAC Point of Contact will be assigned and will contact you. Please direct any questions to your Point of Contact.
  3. Subsequently, the technical subcommittee of WWAC will review the pre-application for the engineering scope within 30 days after the submission. WWAC may request the applicant/consulting engineer attend a meeting (or the applicant may request a meeting) with WWAC to discuss the project scope, including technical aspects and alternatives considered.

    This meeting can be held in person, by video conference, or by teleconference and should include appropriate program staff, applicant representative and the project engineer. Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the City of Lincoln. Once the technical subcommittee has determined the scope as 95% complete, the project will be forwarded to the financing subcommittee.

    Applications will be expedited through the technical committee if the following actions have been taken:

    • Test hole or equivalent confirming water quality for development of a well field.
    • The applicant provides evidence that they have secured the necessary land for the project. Assurances such as deeds, purchase agreements, leases, or a resolution by the Board of Trustees on their intent to proceed with condemnation for land necessary for the project.
    • Service meters are adequate to provide billing commensurate with consumption. This is either evidence that the existing meters have useful life or new service meters with the project.
    • All feasible alternatives were considered.
    • Accuracy of the number of users is critical. Evidence of the number of users must be attached. Any new, seasonal, or inactive users should be identified.
    • In towns under population of 400: AWIN score is reported. If the score is high, discussion on the actual impact to the environment and public health should be described. In those cases, regulatory measures may be considered if affordability becomes restrictive.
  4. The financing subcommittee meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of the month. After review, a funding option packet will be sent to the applicant containing the basic information used to determine the funding options. Instructions to respond will be provided in the funding options packet.
  5. The applicant will have 60 days to respond to the funding option packet. If the Point of Contact has not heard from the applicant after 60 days, WWAC will contact the applicant and discuss the status of the project.
  6. After a funding option has been selected, the selected funding agency(ies) will contact the applicant with further instructions.
  7. Each funding agency will follow its own full application process. Applicants seeking funding for the same project from multiple agencies must submit a full application to all applicable agencies.
  8. If a full application varies significantly from the pre-application, or if the facts involving a project have changed such that the feasibility of the proposed solution warrants further investigation, any individual WWAC agency may request the full WWAC to review the project again.

    This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection
    Agency under  an assistance agreement to Wichita State University Environmental
    Finance Center. The contents of this guide do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned.