CWSRF Scoring Guidance

To receive 10 points, the project must directly address an enforceable schedule in an administrative consent order, discharge permit, or consent judgement. A copy of the enforceable schedule must be included in the final PPD. Efforts to address deficiencies in the enforceable schedule must be clearly identified. The final enforceable schedule document must be issued or entered on or before the final PPD due date.

To receive 15 points, the project must address wet weather-related SSOs, wastewater treatment bypasses or excessive surcharging of the sewer system resulting in basement back-ups for storm events less than the remedial design standard contained in EGLE’s SSO policy.  This can be demonstrated through hydraulic modeling of the sewer system or based on historical operations of the sewer system that resulted in wet-weather discharges.

At minimum, it must be demonstrated that wet-weather related issues are a result of infiltration and/or inflow (I/I) and the selected alternative must be supported by a cost-effective analysis. Results of an approvable I/I study, sewer system evaluation study, and cost-effective analysis that support the proposed work must be submitted with the PPD.

To receive 15 points, the project must address dry-weather SSOs that cause chronic operational issues. This may include, but is not limited to, incorrect pump types, siphons that are difficult to maintain, chronic air release valve failures along a force main, etc. The project need must be supported by appropriate engineering evaluations, or documentation of chronic operational issues attributed to mechanical, structural, or other system deficiencies.   Documentation of dry-weather SSOs must be included in the final PPD to receive points.

To receive points for the correction of leaking lagoon liners, monitoring well analytical data that identifies surface water or groundwater impacts associated with lagoon exfiltration must be submitted. If the applicant has an approved lagoon leakage remediation workplan as required by its wastewater discharge permit, it must also be submitted. A site map depicting the monitoring well locations as they relate to the lagoons should be included. Results of water level monitoring, groundwater flow direction, and other hydrogeologic investigation data may also be submitted as supporting evidence but must accompany monitoring well sampling data.

To receive 15 points, the project must reduce, eliminate, or treat untreated CSOs in accordance with the applicants approved Long-Term Control Plan. Common types of projects are sewer separation, installation of a retention treatment basin or approved alternative facility for adequate treatment of the discharge and/or constructing green infrastructure with the purpose of reducing and/or eliminating untreated CSO discharges.

To receive 15 points, the project must include efforts to reduce or eliminate the discharge of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in biosolids or wastewater. These efforts must align with EGLE’s interim biosolids strategy or comply with established local limits or other wastewater discharge permit requirements. Analytical results that include PFAS concentrations from recent biosolids or wastewater sampling must be submitted with the PPD. Sufficient documentation detailing how the project will address PFAS and the treatment technologies that will be used must be included in the final PPD to receive points.

To receive 10 points, the project must include the correction of failing onsite septic systems (minimum of five), or a septic system serving multiple users, by connecting them to a municipal sewer system. Documentation must be provided to demonstrate that a minimum of five homes will be connected to the municipal system. Municipal sewer system extensions must comply with the minimum connection requirement outlined in the Collector Sewers section from the CWSRF Eligibility Guidance. 

Communities must provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate the systems are failing. This can include a letter from the local health department identifying the failing systems; documentation describing the age, capacity and condition of the septic system; results from recent inspections or nearby surface water sampling. Maps depicting the septic system location(s) as they relate to nearby surface waters should also be included. If the applicant has a mandatory connection requirement such as a local ordinance, a copy of the requirement must be included in the PPD to be awarded the additional 5 points.

Points will be awarded if the project reduces pollutant(s) identified in an EPA Approved Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) or contributes to the de-listing of surface water currently listed on the 303(d) list. The PPD must identify which specific pollutant(s) will be reduced as a result of the project and must identify how the efforts will result in a direct reduction of the pollutant(s) and improve water quality. Sufficient documentation supporting the project’s ability to provide a measured reduction of the pollutant(s) must be included in the final PPD to receive the 5 points.

To receive 5 points, the project must be necessary to achieve compliance with the effluent limitations identified in the wastewater discharge permit for the conventional pollutants (i.e., biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, fecal coliform bacteria, oil and grease). Points are not awarded to maintain compliance. Sufficient information detailing how these efforts will reduce the specific pollutants and help achieve compliance must be provided. Documentation supporting the need to address compliance issues, such as recurring effluent limit noncompliance or more stringent limits recently established in permits, must be clearly identified in the final PPD to receive points.

To receive 5 points, this project must be necessary to achieve compliance with the effluent limitations identified in the wastewater discharge permit for toxic substances (e.g., PFAS, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, chloride, sodium, and iron, etc.). Points are not awarded to maintain compliance. Sufficient information detailing how these efforts will reduce the specific pollutants and help achieve compliance must be provided. Documentation supporting the need to address compliance issues, such as recurring effluent limit noncompliance or more stringent limits recently established in permits, must be clearly identified in the final PPD to receive points.

Points will be awarded to projects that incorporate resiliency efforts to prepare for and mitigate climate, cyber security, and other potential threats. Resiliency efforts should identify how the project exceeds required standards and addresses any needs identified in a vulnerability assessment. A description of the existing system should be included when efforts are taken to improve or enhance current conditions. The purchase and storage of spare parts is not considered resiliency and is not eligible for SRF participation. Projects addressing flooding or high water can include green infrastructure, physical infrastructure hardening (e.g., physical barriers around treatment plants and pump stations, etc.), equipment protection (e.g., waterproofing electrical components, elevating critical equipment, etc.), and elevating or relocating facilities out of floodplains entirely. Cyber security measures include actions that protect against the unauthorized use of systems, networks, devices, and programs used by the wastewater treatment plant facility. All 6 points will be awarded to projects that address resiliency and identify the need for improvements within the final PPD.

Connecting an existing collection system and/or treatment system to another system will award the applicant 6 points. Points will not be awarded to applicants who are already considered part of a regional system. The project will only qualify for these points based on proposed regionalization efforts identified within the final PPD, not the applicant’s regional efforts to date. A community resolution or memorandum of understanding from all communities or systems participating in the regionalization project must be included in the final PPD to receive points.

Points are awarded to applicants that embrace a true asset management approach. To receive points, the project must be included in a current asset management (AM) program and the applicant must have a staff person participating in or who has successfully completed the Michigan Infrastructure Council’s AM Champions Program or similar AM training program. If a staff member is currently completing the program, the applicant must demonstrate their staff has been accepted as a cohort for the current year’s program by the final PPD submittal deadline. If a staff member has already completed the program, a Certificate of Completion must be submitted with the final PPD.  If both requirements are met and documentation is included in the final PPD, the applicant will receive 6 points.

Points will not be awarded to applicants who only have an AM plan and do not have a staff member participating in or who has completed the AM Champions or other similar AM training program. Points will only be awarded when both requirements are met.

If an applicant does not currently have an AM program, has never received CWSRF financing for AM activities and an AM program is being developed for the first time as part of this project, the applicant will receive 6 points.

If an applicant has not received CWSRF financing in the last 5 fiscal years, they are awarded 3 points. This includes applicants that have applied for funding in previous years but were not in the fundable range. Points will not be awarded to applicants that previously declined funding within the last 5 fiscal years. An applicant is awarded points if they have received DWSRF financing, but not CWSRF financing within the last 5 fiscal years.

Points are awarded if the project incorporates new sustainability efforts such as energy efficiency (e.g., variable frequency drives, solar, wind, etc.), resource recovery (e.g., biogas), green infrastructure (e.g., bioswales for stormwater, first-flush retention, etc.), process control (e.g., real-time monitoring and control systems, etc.), or reduced chemical usage (e.g., new utilization of ultraviolet disinfection, biological nutrient removal, etc.) to lower costs, emissions, and environmental impact while improving water quality and operations of the system. The in-kind replacement of equipment does not qualify as a sustainability effort. These efforts must be supported and justified in the project need and alternatives analysis. Applicants must identify how the project will reduce or eliminate current usage or reliance on a specific resource or material. If the project incorporates one or more sustainability efforts, 6 points will be awarded.

Projects that are considered construction ready by the final CWSRF PPD submittal deadline are awarded 5 points. Construction ready projects are those projects that have completed design prior to final PPD submittal, and the applicant has submitted a Part 41 construction permit application. The project does not need to have an issued construction permit, but the application should be administratively complete and adequate for review. Projects must also proceed with a loan closing in Quarter 3 or earlier. If an applicant cannot achieve a Quarter 3 loan closing or earlier, these points may be deducted from their overall score, which may result in the project no longer being in the fundable range on the PPL.

For projects that do not require a construction permit, all required documentation, such as design, agreements and/or approvals, that are necessary to implement the scope of work should be completed by the final PPD submittal deadline.

A geographically overlapping project integrates multiple previously planned projects in the same area occurring at the same time. Points will be awarded to projects that coordinate improvements to other assets and infrastructure that would be considered CWSRF ineligible or non-participating work.

Examples of projects include opening the road once to update more than just wastewater utility infrastructure, road reconstruction beyond CWSRF eligible scope, etc. A resolution or commitment letter from the community/applicant and a map with the overlapping locations of all utility projects must be included in the final PPD to receive the 5 points. Points will not be awarded to projects that include incidental work such as meeting minimum separation requirements or replacement/repair of utilities directly impacted by CWSRF construction.

This category is awarded based on the applicant’s Overburdened and Significantly Overburdened Determination Survey submitted to EGLE. A new determination and survey submittal is required for each fiscal year. Determination, review data, and required forms are on the State Revolving Fund Affordability Criteria webpage. An Overburdened system is awarded 20 points, while a Significantly Overburdened system is awarded 25 points.

If two or more projects have the same score based on the above criteria, the following tiebreaker will be used:

The system with the lower median annual household income will be ranked ahead of the system with the higher median annual household income.

For systems that serve more than one municipal entity, the blended median annual household income (MAHI) calculated during the submission of the overburdened survey will be used as the tiebreaker. All applicants must submit the Overburdened and Significantly Overburdened Determination Survey on the State Revolving Fund Affordability Criteria webpage to calculate the MAHI that will be used.