
On November 15, 2021, the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), commonly referred to as the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was signed into law. BIL is a federally funded infrastructure package covering multiple critical infrastructure sectors throughout the U.S., including drinking water. The law provides the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with grant funds that can be appropriated to states for investments in drinking water infrastructure over the next five years (2022 – 2026).
BIL funding will be available to communities through the state’s existing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), implemented jointly by Business Oregon and OHA Drinking Water Services. BIL authorizes increases to Oregon’s existing base
DWSRF program and includes appropriations for Supplemental DWSRF funding for infrastructure improvements, funding for identifying and replacing lead service lines and gooseneck connectors, and funding to address emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS or other unregulated contaminants).
A key priority of BIL is to ensure that disadvantaged communities benefit equitably, therefore, federal funding requirements stipulate that a significant portion of funds be provided in the form of loan subsidy.
Funding Availability

Project Priority Lists
The Project Priority Lists (PPL) for each of the 3 BIL funding programs will be located on the
Project Priority Lists and Public Notices web page. A PPL is a list of proposed drinking water projects submitted by an eligible public water system that has been reviewed, rated, and ranked against strict public health criteria. Oregon’s DWSRF program rating and ranking criteria prioritizes projects that address risks to human health, compliance to the Safe Drinking Water Act, and is affordable to the applicant. The PPL is a major component of each grant application’s Intended Use Plan (IUP).
Intended Use Plans
The Intended Use Plans (IUP) for each of the 3 BIL funding programs will be located on the
Intended Use Plan (IUP) web page. An IUP describes how Oregon intends to use these funds and is the primary narrative for each grant application. The IUP is a federal grant requirement as part of each state’s grant application.
How to Apply
More information will be provided in the coming weeks and months as OHA and Business Oregon prepare to announce more details.
Resources
Contacts