Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Planning
🏛 State Water Resources Control Board (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Jul 10, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for petroleum underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators in California who need financial assistance for cleanup costs. Small businesses and individuals who own or operate petroleum USTs can apply. The fund reimburses expenses for leaking UST cleanup and helps meet federal and state financial responsibility requirements. Eligible parties must demonstrate they own or operate a petroleum UST requiring remediation.
Activities supported include assessment, remediation, and cleanup of petroleum UST releases. The fund covers costs directly tied to addressing unauthorized releases from petroleum systems. This is a reimbursement program, so applicants must have incurred eligible cleanup expenses.
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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 small community water systems (SCWS) serving a small disadvantage community (DAC) and small severely disadvantage communities (SDAC), eligible non-transient non-community water systems (NTNC) serving a small DAC or small SDAC, and public water systems (PWS) extending service to small DACs andsmall SDACs may receive the maximum principle forgiveness (PF)/grant of $500,000. Other public water systems may receive loan or partial loan with subsidized interest rate and maximum term for repayable of five or ten years. Planning costs may include the preparation of planning/design documents such as Feasibility studies and project reports, plans and specifications, engineering and specifications, environmental documents, capital improvement plans, etc. Other costs such as legal costs and fees, environmental review, TMF assessments, water rate studies, and test wells are also eligible for funding under planning projects. 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
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Proof of UST ownership or operation
- Documentation of unauthorized release
- Itemized cleanup expense receipts and invoices
- Remediation records and contractor information
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% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for this fund?
Petroleum UST owners and operators, including small businesses and individuals. You must own or operate a petroleum underground storage tank in California.
What expenses does the fund cover?
Reimbursement for cleanup costs related to leaking petroleum USTs. Eligible expenses relate directly to remediation of unauthorized releases.
Is there a deadline?
The fund operates on a rolling basis, meaning applications are accepted on an ongoing schedule. Check with California's State Water Resources Control Board for current submission procedures.
How much funding is available per award?
Award amounts are not specified in the program description. Contact the administering agency for typical funding levels and limits.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No cost-sharing requirement exists for this program. The fund provides full reimbursement for eligible cleanup expenses.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Document all cleanup costs carefully with receipts and invoices to support your reimbursement claim.
- Verify your UST qualifies as a petroleum system under state and federal definitions before applying.
- Ensure your cleanup activities comply with California environmental regulations and standards.
- Contact the State Water Resources Control Board early to confirm your specific cleanup expenses are eligible.
- Keep detailed records of the unauthorized release and all remediation steps taken to support your application.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting incomplete expense documentation or invoices without proper itemization. Failing to verify the UST qualifies as eligible under state/federal rules. Claiming costs for cleanup activities that don't meet regulatory standards or weren't performed by qualified contractors.
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