Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Construction
🏛 State Water Resources Control Board (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Sep 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for charter schools that need help paying ongoing facility costs. Schools must serve a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or be located in an elementary school boundary with similar demographics.
Applicants must be charter schools operating in California. The program focuses on schools serving economically disadvantaged student populations.
Funding availability is announced annually by the California School Finance Authority (CSFA). Schools should monitor the CSFA website for application periods and deadlines.
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Program description
The Division of Financial Assistant (DFA), State Water Board manages the DWSRF program and prioritizes financing for projects that address the most serious human health risks, are necessary to comply with SDWA, and assist public water systems (PWS) most in need on per household basis. Periodically funding programs that help provide clean and safe water are used in combination with the DWSRF program. Eligible community water systems (CWS) currently may receive principle forgiveness (PF)/grant from $2,000,000 up to 100% of total eligible project cost depending on the project types, community served by the CWS, and residential water rates as a percentage of MHI. Financing terms varies from 0% interest to half of California’s average general obligation bond rate for the previous calendar year. Repayment may be amortized for 30 to 40 years or the useful life of he financed construction facilities. Construction of water systems’ infrastructures (treatment facilities, water sources, storages, and distribution systems) and contingency of change orders are common eligible construction cost. Additional eligible construction cost examples are value appraisal and land purchase for right-of-way and easements, planning and design, administration, and construction management. Applications for the DWSRF program and associated funding are accepted on a continuous basis. After DFA receives a complete application, a detailed technical, environmental, legal, and financial review is conducted to determine the applicant’s eligibility for DWSRF and associated drinking water funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Charter School Authorization/Operating Agreement
- Current enrollment and demographic data
- Free/reduced-price meal eligibility documentation
- Detailed facility cost budget
- School financial statements or fiscal documentation
Program contact
- 📧 DrinkingWaterSRF@waterboards.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-327-9978
Funding track record
Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.
By fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Applications | Awarded | Award rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 98 | 11 | 11% |
| 2021-2022 | 32 | 3 | 9% |
| 2024-2025 | 89 | 11 | 12% |
| 2022-2023 | 94 | 3 | 3% |
| 2020-2021 | 32 | — | 0% |
| 2025-2026 | 21 | 7 | 33% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Charter schools in California serving high-percentage free/reduced-price meal-eligible students. Schools in elementary boundaries with similar demographics also qualify.
How often does funding become available?
Funding availability is announced annually on the CSFA website. There is no fixed deadline—check the CSFA site regularly.
What are the grant funds used for?
Grants offset annual ongoing facility costs. This covers operational facility expenses, not capital construction.
Is matching funding required?
No cost sharing or match is required to apply.
How much can schools receive?
Award amounts vary by year and funding availability. Check the CSFA website for current funding levels.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Monitor the CSFA website year-round for funding announcements. Rolling deadlines mean early submission often helps.
- Document your student population's free/reduced-price meal eligibility clearly. This is your primary qualification criterion.
- Gather facility cost documentation before the application opens. This shows your actual need and strengthens competitiveness.
- Connect your application to your school's mission and community impact. Reviewers value schools serving high-need populations.
- If your school is new or changing demographics, provide recent data. Demonstrate current eligibility clearly.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Schools fail to verify they meet the free/reduced-price meal threshold or boundary requirement before applying. Incomplete or outdated enrollment/demographic data weakens applications. Missing or vague documentation of actual facility costs reduces competitiveness.
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