Expanding Access Through State Revolving Funds
Closing the Gap for Faster Water Infrastructure Investment
EPIC’s State Revolving Funds (SRF) initiative works to expand and expedite access to water infrastructure investments through the SRFs.
Did You Know?
What Drives Us
We work to eliminate gaps in water infrastructure funding and financing by helping states, under-resourced municipalities, and utilities access and maximize federal water infrastructure investments.
Why It Matters
If we maintain the status quo with our infrastructure financing policies and practices, many small and under-resourced communities will be left behind, missing out on vital federal and state investments and deepening disparities in access and quality of service. In addition, projects may stall, ultimately costing more than they should. Limited access and longer timelines delay residents’ access to safe, reliable, and affordable water infrastructure.
Without intervention, there’s a risk that small and under-resourced communities will continue to struggle to access federal and state financing for water, further widening access gaps and water infrastructure disparities. Rooted in safe, reliable, affordable water service access for all, our work serves to connect funds to where they are needed most and ultimately close critical financing and funding gaps.
Our Process
We strive to accelerate access to financing and address unnecessary hurdles and other persistent barriers that hinder progress in public health, environmental protection, and economic prosperity. By analyzing federal and state funding and financing pathways—particularly State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs—we identify problems, track how resources are allocated, and spotlight opportunities to make water infrastructure funding more efficient and impactful.
Through rigorous data analysis and timely policy research, we examine how states determine eligibility, allocate resources, and administer programs. Paired with hands-on experience delivering technical assistance through EPIC’s Funding Navigator, these insights reveal where policy and practice can evolve to reduce administrative burdens, streamline processes, and strengthen outcomes.
By collaborating with legislators, agencies, utilities, municipalities, and advocacy organizations, we develop and advance reforms, financing strategies, and practical solutions that help communities more effectively secure and use public funds—supporting affordable, resilient drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure nationwide.
Featured Resources
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We have developed, and are adding to, a series of briefs on policy options that SRF programs could adopt to expand access to state and federal investments in water infrastructure while ensuring the long-term viability of the SRFs and their ability to provide continued access to low-cost capital for water projects.
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We provide analysis and submit public comments on state Intended Use Plans (IUPs) in collaboration with other state groups and community-based organizations, offering specific recommendations to improve state policies.
Southern States Drinking Water State Revolving Funds: Quantitative Analyses
As part of our work led and funded by PolicyLink to strengthen State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs across the Southern United States, we developed a series of reports analyzing SRF implementation in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. This effort was part of a broader initiative to provide in-state analysts with robust quantitative tools to support effective, evidence-based SRF advocacy at the state level.