Septic-to-Sewer Funding
The State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board’s) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is a federal-state partnership that provides financial assistance through loans and grants for a wide range of wastewater infrastructure water quality projects, including projects that connect previously unsewered areas that often rely on septic systems to a centralized sewer/wastewater system (septic-to-sewer). California’s Human Right to Water law declares that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes.” Funding is available for septic-to-sewer planning and construction projects. Grant/principal forgiveness (PF) may be available for septic-to-sewer projects that serve small, disadvantaged communities.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
- Government entities, tribes, or 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
- For CWSRF loan financing terms, visit the CWSRF Basics webpage.
- For Grant/PF funding, the unsewered area must be a small, disadvantaged community:
- Small community: a community with a population of less than 20,000 people.
- Disadvantaged community: a community with a median household income (MHI) of less than eighty percent (80%) of the statewide MHI.
- For septic-to-sewer projects, the MHI of the community that will be connected will be used.
- Technical Assistance (TA) funding may be available. Please visit the TA Funding Program webpage for additional information.
- Other funding eligibility criteria can be found in the Wastewater Grants Fact Sheet and in the CWSRF Intended Use Plan.
- Individuals owning property served by septic systems are not eligible to apply. If an individual/property owner is interested in connecting to a centralized sewer/wastewater system, please contact the local sewer/wastewater provider and/or the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards) Wastewater Consolidation Program staff.
How to Apply
- Online via the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST) at https://faast.waterboards.ca.gov
- For CWSRF application forms and to learn more about how to apply, visit the CWSRF Forms and Instructions webpage.
Contacts
- General Inquiries: Please contact us at CleanWaterSRF@waterboards.ca.gov or phone (916) 327-9978.
- For small, disadvantaged communities: Please contact us at DFA-OSWS@waterboards.ca.gov or phone (916) 327-9978.
Additional Resources
Depending on your project needs, other funding programs that are separate from the State Water Board’s CWSRF program for septic repairs, installment, or decommissioning can be found in the following link:
Funded Septic-to-Sewer Projects
The table below lists septic-to-sewer projects funded by the CWSRF Program as of January 31, 2025:
| Party | Project Name | Region | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chowchilla, City of | Fairmead - Chowchilla Wastewater Treatment Facility Connection Project | 5 | Madera |
| Coachella Valley Water District | Airport Boulevard Sewer Consolidation Project | 7 | Riverside |
| Coachella Valley Water District | Avenue 66 Trunk Sewer Project | 7 | Riverside |
| Coachella Valley Water District | Oasis Gardens Mobile Home Park Septic-to-Sewer Project | 7 | Riverside |
| Coachella, City of | Shady Lane Mobile Home Park Septic-to-Sewer Project | 7 | Riverside |
| Colusa, City of | Water Consolidation - Walnut Ranch Community Facilities Improvement Project | 5 | Colusa |
| Eastern Municipal Water District | Enchanted Heights Sewer System | 8 | Riverside |
| Eastern Municipal Water District | Quail Valley Subarea 9 Phase 1 Sewer Project | 8 | Riverside |
| Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District | Avenues Septic to Sewer | 8 | Riverside |
| Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District | Sedco Septic to Sewer | 8 | Riverside |
| Hi-Desert Water District | Phase II and Phase III Sewer Collection System Project | 7 | San Bernardino |
| Hi-Desert Water District | Septic System Abatement & Private Lateral Installation | 7 | San Bernardino |
| Hi-Desert Water District | Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Facility | 7 | San Bernardino |
| Kern, County of | Rexland Acres Sewer Expansion | 5 | Kern |
| Kern, County of | South Shafter Private Sewer Lateral Connection Project | 5 | Kern |
| Kern, County of | South Shafter Sewer Project | 5 | Kern |
| Lake County Sanitation District | Anderson Springs Septic to Sewer Project | 5 | Lake |
| Mission Springs Water District | AD-12 Area F & M1 Sewer Construction | 7 | Riverside |
| Mission Springs Water District | West Valley Water Reclamation Program | 7 | Riverside |
| Monterey One Water | Farmworker Housing Complex Connection to MRWPCA Regional Treatment System | 3 | Monterey |
| Sacramento Area Sewer District | Franklin Community Septic Conversion Project | 5 | Sacramento |
| Sacramento Area Sewer District | Freeport Septic Conversion Project | 5 | Sacramento |
| Sacramento Area Sewer District | Hood Septic Conversion Project | 5 | Sacramento |
| Sacramento Area Sewer District | Linda Manor Community Septic Conversion | 5 | Sacramento |
| Sacramento Area Sewer District | Old Florin Town Septic Conversion Project | 5 | Sacramento |
| Santa Ana, City of | Septic to Sewer Island | 8 | Orange |
| Stanislaus, County of | Airport Sewer Project | 5 | Stanislaus |
| Stanislaus, County of | Parklawn Sewer Project | 5 | Stanislaus |
| Stanislaus, County of | West Modesto Sewer Infrastructure Project - Spencer/Marshall Neighborhood | 5 | Stanislaus |
| Willow Creek Community Services District | Downtown Wastewater Development Project | 1 | Humboldt |
| Willow Creek Community Services District | Willow Creek Downtown Wastewater - Private Septic Decommissioning and Lateral Installation | 1 | Humboldt |
