Tennessee SFY27 Public Comments: Drinking Water Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement Intended Use Plan

At EPIC, we are conducting a review of several states’ Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. Through this process, we have gained a deeper understanding of how these programs are administered and how the presentation of information in state IUPs can be enhanced. While analyzing Tennessee’s DWSRF program for our DWSRF Funding Tracker project, we’ve noted the following points about the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) administration of its DWSRF funds. Our intention is to support Tennessee in its efforts to make its IUPs even more user-friendly and informative and to adopt policies to direct funds where they are needed most and on a more timely basis.

Summary of EPIC’s Recommendations:

1. Clarify and expand criteria for ranking LSLR projects

2. Consider making fuller use of set-asides from the FFY2025 LSLR federal capitalization grant to (a) strengthen the LSLR project pipeline and help communities implement more timely and cost-efficient projects and (b) improve the affordability of LSLR project awards

3. Provide additional Principal Forgiveness to Communities with the Lowest ATPI scores

4. Improve clarity and transparency in Tennessee’s LSLR IUP by providing clear information on SRF policy decisions discussed in the IUPs and associated project lists