Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program

The Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Grant Program (CWISA) provides funding to Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages for wastewater infrastructure. The CWISA program is administered in cooperation with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

To be considered for CWISA program funding, Tribes must identify their wastewater needs to the IHS Sanitation Deficiency System. EPA uses the IHS Sanitation Deficiency System priority lists to identify and select projects for CWISA program funding.

• Program Guidance, Frequent Questions, and Contacts
• Emerging Contaminants
• Funding History
• Tribal Infrastructure Task Force
• Publications

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Program Guidance, Frequent Questions, and Contacts

• FY 2024 Funding Memorandum (pdf) (383.4 KB)
  Guides the distribution of $69.4 million in FY 2024 tribal wastewater infrastructure funding.
• FY 2023 Funding Memorandum (pdf) (451.57 KB)
  Guides the distribution of $64 million in FY 2023 tribal wastewater infrastructure funding.
• FY 2022 Funding Memorandum (pdf) (430.36 KB)
  Guides the distribution of FY 2022 funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program Guidance
  Describes EPA’s policies and procedures for administering the program. The guidance incorporates many concepts already adopted by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and recommended by the Tribal Infrastructure Task Force.
• EPA administers the CWISA program in cooperation with the IHS Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction with their Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) data system and Guide. EPA regional offices use SDS to identify projects for CWISA program funds. This cooperation streamlines project selection procedures by eliminating duplication of efforts between the two agencies.
• EPA also provides funds to drinking water systems for infrastructure improvements through a separate Indian set-aside grants program. Learn more about the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set-Aside Program.
• Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Grant Program: Answers to Frequent Questions
  Provides an overview of the program, including project eligibility, funding, and project administration.
• Contact your EPA Regional Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Coordinator for more information on CWISA and its implementation.

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Emerging Contaminants

EPA Regions administer Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Emerging Contaminants funds. Contact your EPA Regional Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Coordinator about potential Emerging Contaminants projects, and to learn about how to apply for funding.

• CWISA Emerging Contaminants Project Eligibility Decision Tool (pdf) (314.19 KB)
  The Decision Tool is a screening method to assess if a project or an applicant is eligible to use these funds. Eligibilities are consistent across EPA Regions.
• CWISA Emerging Contaminants Eligibility Summary (pdf) (540.51 KB)
  Provides eligibility guidance for the Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Emerging Contaminants funding.
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants Fact Sheet
  The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriates $1 billion over five years (FY 2022 to FY 2026) to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund specifically to address emerging contaminants, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source pollution.

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Funding History

The Clean Water Act authorized CWISA program funding via one-half of one percent (0.5 percent) from the Construction Grants Program appropriations for fiscal years 1987 through 1990. In 1992, Congress gave EPA the authority to take a 0.5 percent set-aside from the Clean Water Act Title VI (Clean Water State Revolving Fund) appropriation following the phase-out of the Construction Grants Program.

Beginning with EPA's FY 2001 Appropriation's Bill, Congress has authorized an increase from 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund's (CWSRF) appropriation for the CWISA set-aside. In FY 2010, Congress authorized an increase from 1.5 percent to 2 percent from the CWSRF for the CWISA set-aside. Since FY 2016, the CWISA appropriation from Congress has been either 2 percent of the CWSRF or $30 million, whichever is greater.

• CWISA Program Funding (pdf) (206.06 KB)
  Shows program funding amounts and the number of projects funded for the past decade.

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Tribal Infrastructure Task Force

EPA collaborates extensively with other federal agencies to ensure effective and efficient implementation of its Tribal programs. An example of this is the Infrastructure Task Force (ITF). The primary focus of the ITF is to improve access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation, and solid waste services in Indian country.

The federal partners participating in the task force include:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (Rural Development),
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Indian Health Service),
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and
• U.S. Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs).

The agencies accomplish the goals of the ITF by coordinating federal efforts in delivering water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure, and solid waste management services to Tribal communities. This coordination leads to a streamlined approach to agency policies, regulations, and directives. Streamlining reduces the administrative burden for Tribal communities and facilitates access to funding.

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Publications

• Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program Infographic
• Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Grant Program Annual Reports
• SepticSmart Homeowner's Guide for Tribal Communities
• Using a Responsible Management Entity (RME) to Manage Tribal Onsite (Septic) Wastewater Treatment Systems
• Indian Health Service Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (DSFC) Project Dashboard and Interactive Map