Loan Terms

Until recently, loan terms have been limited to a maximum of 20 years. An amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) now permits loan terms of up to 30 years, depending on the useful life of the project.

In order for a project to be eligible for a loan exceeding 20 years and up to 30 years, the useful life of the project must be greater than or equal to the loan term (s. 281.59 (9) (ad) and (ag), Wis. Stats.). The municipality or consulting engineer must submit a Design Life Calculation Worksheet demonstrating that the cost-weighted-average design life is at least equal to the requested loan term.

Clean Water Fund Program - Design Life Calculation Worksheet

Projects that consist solely of installation or replacement of pipeline and associated appurtenances such as pressure relief valves, cleanouts, and manholes, are exempt for the Design Life Calculation Worksheet requirement and are assumed to have a design life of 30 years or greater. All other projects must submit the CWFP - Design Life Calculation Worksheet [XLSX].

In the analysis, costs for each asset or asset system (HVAC, process equipment, tanks, etc.) are multiplied by the design life of that asset, summed, and divided by the total project cost less any non-asset costs. The resulting number, truncated at the integer, provides the maximum loan duration, not to exceed 30 years.

Asset design life may not exceed the range provided for the relevant category on the worksheet, unless asset-specific documentation supports an exception. The "lifespans" tab provides recommended asset design lives compiled from various sources, but deviations are allowed from these values. The design life of assets should reflect site-specific conditions. For example, support systems such as HVAC should not be listed with a design life that exceeds the remaining design life of the structure that they serve.

Non-asset costs such as demolition, engineering, and administration should not be included in the design life calculations. The effective life of those costs is determined by the assets' lifespan. Land should also not be included in the calculation. Loans for demolition-only projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

This methodology for determining the design life of a project was established in the State Fiscal Year 2021 CWFP Intended Use Plan.

If you have questions about how to complete the Design Life Calculation Worksheet, please contact the DNR plan reviewer for your region.

SAFE DRINKING WATER LOAN PROGRAM – DESIGN LIFE CALCULATION WORKSHEET

A Design Life Calculation Worksheet is required for all projects, except those that consist solely of installation or replacement of pipeline and associated appurtenances. The worksheet is required for pipe re-lining and/or rehabilitation projects. All other projects must submit the SDWLP – Design Life Calculation Worksheet [XLSX].

If you have questions about how to complete the Design Life Calculation Worksheet, please contact the DNR plan reviewer for your region.

Submittal

The Design Life Calculation Worksheet must be submitted at least 9 weeks prior to loan closing. For loan terms greater than 20 years, the worksheet will need concurrence from the DNR Plan Reviewer before the longer loan term can be approved. The applicant will receive notification via email once the review is complete.

The DNR strongly encourages applicants to submit the design life calculation worksheet with the rest of its application submittal in order to allow enough review and response time for the worksheet contents. Later submittal of the design life calculation worksheet may delay a loan closing. Direct questions about the design life calculation worksheet to the DNR plan reviewer for your region.

Interest Rate

The market rate for loans with terms longer than 20 years will be slightly higher than the market rate for 20-year loans.

Contact information

Clean Water Fund Program questions

Lisa Bushby, CWFP Coordinator

Safe Drinking Water Loan Program questions

Noah Balgooyen, SDWLP Coordinator