A total of $75,000,000 in ARPA funds have been appropriated for septic, straight pipe, and sewer collection system repair, replacement, and upgrades. Of this total, approximately $65,000,000 will be allocated to projects that provide sewer collection system repair, replacement and upgrades as the wastewater treatment solution. SCS Program projects can include eliminating septic systems and straight pipe discharges with connection to a new or existing sewer collection system.

Eligible Projects

Eligible project types include:

• Projects that eliminate septic systems and straight pipe discharges by connecting homes and businesses to a sewer collection system – for this type of project, costs associated with establishing a sewer collection system are considered eligible
• All other sewer collection system repair, replacement, and upgrades

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for SCS ARPA funds include Local Governments and other entities as defined in Virginia Code § 62.1-224:

"Local government" means any county, city, town, municipal corporation, authority, district, commission or political subdivision created by the General Assembly or pursuant to the Constitution or laws of the Commonwealth or any combination of any two or more of the foregoing. The term "local government" includes any authority, commission, district, sanitary board or governmental entity issuing bonds on behalf of an authority, commission, district or sanitary board of an adjoining state that operates a wastewater treatment facility located in Virginia.

“other entities” means owners of private wastewater treatment facilities. 

Application Evaluation

Refer to Attachment 1 of the DEQ ARPA Implementation Plan for additional information.

Grant Authorization Information

DEQ's Director has tentatively authorized grant offers for the projects in the table below. Selected applicants have 30 days from the date of their notification letter to accept or decline the funding offer. If any project authorization is not accepted, DEQ will provide funding offers to projects listed in the contingency projects list below, in the order they are listed, until a total of $65,000,000 in funding offers is accepted. More information about the application review and evaluation process is available in a memo to applicants dated March 6, 2023.

A total of $75,000,000 in ARPA funds have been appropriated for septic, straight pipe, and sewer collection system repair, replacement, and upgrades.  Of this total, approximately $5,000,000 will be allocated to local partners to develop and implement a funding program for projects that provide septic system repair, replacement and upgrades as the wastewater treatment solution. SLPP projects can also include eliminating failing septic systems, pit privies and straight pipe discharges and connection to a new or existing sewer collection system.

Eligible Projects

Eligible project types include:

• Individual and community septic system repair, replacement, and upgrades
• Projects that eliminate straight pipe discharges and pit privies by installing septic systems
• Projects that eliminate septic systems, pit privies and straight pipe discharges by connecting homes and businesses to a sewer collection system

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for SLPP ARPA funds include Local Governments and other entities as defined in Virginia Code § 62.1-224:

"Local government" means any county, city, town, municipal corporation, authority, district, commission or political subdivision created by the General Assembly or pursuant to the Constitution or laws of the Commonwealth or any combination of any two or more of the foregoing. The term "local government" includes any authority, commission, district, sanitary board or governmental entity issuing bonds on behalf of an authority, commission, district or sanitary board of an adjoining state that operates a wastewater treatment facility located in Virginia.

“other entities” means owners of private wastewater treatment facilities. 

Application Evaluation

Refer to Attachment 1 of the DEQ ARPA Implementation Plan for additional information.

Grant Authorization Information

DEQ's Director has initially authorized grant offers for the projects in the table below. This funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis until grant agreements have been executed for all $5 million SLPP funding. DEQ retains the ability to redistribute funds, including increasing, decreasing, or withdrawing the project authorization amount, if recipients fail to meet program deadlines. This flexible funding approach allows the opportunity for each eligible project to be funded, and rewards recipients that meet the requirements, execute the grant agreements, and disburse funds in a timely manner.

A total of $280,000,000 in ARPA funds have been appropriated for grants to the cities of Alexandria, Lynchburg, and Richmond to pay a portion of the costs of combined sewer overflow control projects. The City of Alexandria is to receive $90,000,000 and provide $50,000,000 in local match funds; the City of Lynchburg is to receive $50,000,000 and provide $25,000,000 in local match funds; and the City of Richmond is to receive $150,000,000 and provide $50,000,000 in local match funds. Additional instructions for match certification can be found in the Program Requirements.

Eligible Projects

Eligible project types include:

• Projects that correct combined sewer overflow problems as defined in Virginia Code § 62.1-241.11:

"Combined sewer overflow" or "CSO" means the discharge of untreated sanitary wastes, including industrial wastes and other wastes conveyed through a sanitary sewer system, and stormwater from combined stormwater and sanitary sewers.

Eligible Applicants

The three local governments eligible for CSO ARPA funds are the Cities of Alexandria, Lynchburg and Richmond. Applications will be solicited from these local governments for CSO projects in the amounts directed by 2021 Special Session II Va. Acts Ch. 1 and by 2022 Special Session I Va. Acts Ch. 2:

• $90,000,000 for the City of Alexandria
• $50,000,000 for the City of Lynchburg
• $150,000,000 for the City of Richmond

Application Evaluation

Refer to Attachment 1 of the DEQ ARPA Implementation Plan for additional information.

DEQ’s Director is authorizing CSO Program grants on a rolling basis. To date, the projects in the table below have been authorized:

A total of $100,000,000 in ARPA funds have been appropriated to reimburse eligible entities as provided for in the Enhanced Nutrient Removal Certainty (ENRC) Program established in § 62.1-44.19:14, Code of Virginia, for capital costs incurred for the design and installation of nutrient removal technology, and to reimburse the Wise County Public Service Authority for capital costs incurred for infrastructure improvements in the Town of Pound and the City of Petersburg for capital costs incurred for infrastructure improvements that are eligible for reimbursement under the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund established in §§ 62.1-225, Code of Virginia. Such reimbursements shall be in accordance with eligibility determinations made by the Department of Environmental Quality.

Eligible Projects and Applicants – ENRC Program

Eligible projects and eligible applicants for the ENRC Program portion include (note – in accordance with the Final Rule, no costs incurred prior to March 3, 2021 for these projects will be reimbursed utilizing ARPA funds):

• HRSD-Nansemond River WWTP – Upgrade and expand with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen (1/1/2026) and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2032)*
• Spotsylvania Co.-Massaponax WWTF – Expand with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus to consolidate and close FMC WWTF (1/1/2026)
• Spotsylvania Co.-Thornburg STP – Upgrade with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2026)
• South Central Wastewater Authority WWTF – Upgrade with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2026)
• HRSD-Williamsburg WWTP – Upgrade with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen (1/1/2026) and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2032)*
• HRSD-VIP WWTP – Upgrade with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen (1/1/2026) and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2032)*
• HRSD-James River WWTP – Upgrade with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen (1/1/2026) and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2028)*
• HRSD-Army Base WWTP – Upgrade with nutrient removal technology of 4.0 mg/L total nitrogen (1/1/2026) and 0.30 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2028)*
• Fredericksburg WWTF – Expand with nutrient removal technology of 3.0 mg/L total nitrogen and 0.22 mg/L total phosphorus (1/1/2026)

*Note – this portion of the project will only be eligible if it is completed in accordance with the Final Rule’s timeline.

Eligible Projects and Applicants – Wise County Public Service Authority and City of Petersburg

Eligible project types for these eligible applicants, the Wise County Public Service Authority and the City of Petersburg, include:

• Infrastructure improvements that are eligible for reimbursement under the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund as defined in Virginia Code §62.1-224:

"Cost," as applied to any project financed under the provisions of this chapter, means the total of all costs incurred as reasonable and necessary for carrying out all works and undertakings necessary or incident to the accomplishment of any project. It includes, without limitation, all necessary developmental, planning and feasibility studies, surveys, plans and specifications, architectural, engineering, financial, legal or other special services, the cost of acquisition of land and any buildings and improvements thereon, including the discharge of any obligations of the sellers of such land, buildings or improvements, site preparation and development, including demolition or removal of existing structures, construction and reconstruction, labor, materials, machinery and equipment, the reasonable costs of financing incurred in the course of the development of the project, carrying charges incurred before placing the project in service, interest on funds borrowed to finance the project to a date subsequent to the estimated date the project is to be placed in service, necessary expenses incurred in connection with placing the project in service, the funding of accounts and reserves which the Authority may require and the cost of other items which the Authority determines to be reasonable and necessary.

"Project" means any small water facility project as defined in § 62.1-229 and any wastewater treatment facility located or to be located in the Commonwealth, all or part of which facility serves the citizens of the Commonwealth. The term includes, without limitation, sewage and wastewater (including surface and ground water) collection, treatment and disposal facilities; drainage facilities and projects; related office, administrative, storage, maintenance and laboratory facilities; and interests in land related thereto.

Application Evaluation

Refer to Attachment 1 of the DEQ ARPA Implementation Plan for additional information.

Grant Award Information

The solicitation period for ENCRPP Program ended on October 15, 2022. DEQ’s Director authorized grants for the projects in the table below on November 22, 2022.

A total of $117,476,500 in ARPA funds have been appropriated for grants to specific localities for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. DEQ will be administering appropriated funding for wastewater and stormwater projects and Virginia Department of Health will be administering appropriated funding for drinking water projects.

Eligible Projects, Applicants, and Fund Amounts

• City of Fredericksburg – $27,000,000 – Wastewater projects
• King George County Service Authority – $16,000,000 – Wastewater projects
• Town of Wachapreague – $2,400,000 – Sewer projects
• Town of Accomac – $4,500,000 – Sewer projects
• Town of Parksley – $1,500,000 – Sewer projects
• Town of Exmore – $3,500,000 – Sewer projects
• Town of Quantico – $17,000,000 – Water and sewer improvements
• City of Falls Church – $4,000,000 – Stormwater improvements
• Town of Colonial Beach – $5,700,000 – Water and sewer improvements
• City of Petersburg – $29,551,500 – Water and wastewater upgrades at Poor Creek Pump Station
• Town of Occoquan – $325,000 – Outfall sediment removal projects and stormwater dredging activities
• Town of Dumfries – $3,000,000 – Support Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit activities
• County of Prince William – $3,000,000 – Assist with the connection of Bristow Manor to the Prince William County wastewater collection system

Application Evaluation

Refer to Attachment 1 of the DEQ ARPA Implementation Plan for additional information.

Grant Award Information

DEQ’s Director is authorizing 2022 Appropriation Program grants on a rolling basis. To date, the projects in the table below have been authorized: