Environmental Loans June 2026 Newsletter
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Environmental Loans programs provide affordable financial assistance to Wisconsin communities for water infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations.
Online System Access And Authorization Reminders
Please do not wait until June 30, 2026, the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program application submittal deadline, to set up a MyWisconsin ID account or request access to the online application system via the DNR Switchboard.
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Attention: Requests received within 48 hours of the submittal deadline cannot be accommodated.
If you have not created a MyWisconsin ID or obtained access to the online loan systems, details and step-by-step guidance are available.
If you are a designated representative (e.g., consultant), the municipality must authorize you to submit materials on its behalf by completing, signing and sending the Online Submittal Authorization Certificate (in PDF format) to Jenny Kilps, Environmental Loans Online Systems database and file manager, at Jennifer.Kilps@wisconsin.gov.
Additional information and guidance are available on the Online Systems webpage.
Updated Online Authorization Certificate Available
The DNR Environmental Loans Section recently made minor updates to its Online Submittal Authorization Certificate (Form 8700-377) and released it on May 19, 2026. Please use the new version of this form.
We replaced the words ‘consultant’ and ‘engineer’ with ‘representative’ to make the form more inclusive, specifically for technical assistance providers. The updated language is more similar to that used in chapters NR 162.05(1) and NR 166.08(1), Wis. Adm. Code (2023).
For more information on the authorization certificate, visit our Online Systems webpage.
Troubleshooting Forms
For best results, open forms and PDFs using Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge. If you have trouble opening a form or PDF, read the DNR’s Site Requirements and PDF Help webpages for assistance.
Floodplain Mapping Notice For The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Environmental Review
On May 18, 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released an updated Surface Water Data Viewer (SWDV). Changes included removal of floodplain layers, theme and search tool. The removed floodplain layers and search tool are available in the Storm Water, Waterway and Wetland Permit Viewer (SW4P). The SWDV and SW4P mapping tools are used to produce wetlands, waterways and floodplain maps for environmental review requirements of any Safe Drinking Water Loan Program funded project.
Wetlands, waterways, and floodplain maps must be uploaded in the environmental review module of the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program online application system.
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Attention: We ask applicants to use the SW4P tool for floodplain mapping starting with state fiscal year 2027 projects.
Instructions for applicants have been updated, refer to the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Environmental Review Guide (PUB-CF-60).
If you have any questions on the environmental review submittal process or how to use the SWDV or SW4P tools, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program environmental review team at DNRCFELEnvironmentalReview@wisconsin.gov.
Market Rates For July 1
The market rates for Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program loans with municipal meetings (resolutions approving the municipal obligations and the financial assistance agreements) on or after July 1, 2026, will remain unchanged for tax-exempt financings and slightly decrease for taxable financings.
The market rates will be as follows:
- The market rate for tax-exempt loans with loan terms of 20 years or less will remain at 4.300%, and with loan terms of 21-30 years will remain at 4.500%.
- The market rate for taxable loans with loan terms of 20 years or less will decrease from 5.119% to 4.778%, and with loan terms of 21-30 years will decrease from 5.357% to 5.000%.
The Lead Service Line Replacement Program interest rate is not tied to the current market rate and is instead set at 0.25%. Learn about market rates and program-subsidized interest rates on the DNR’s Interest Rates webpage. Please direct any market or interest rate questions or concerns to the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Capital Finance Office at DOAEIF@wisconsin.gov.
Upcoming Deadlines And Events
The deadlines for the notice of intent to apply submittal, financial assistance application submittal and loan closing are set in the corresponding program's annual intended use plan that is available on the DNR’s Project Lists and Intended Use Plans webpage.
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June 30, 2026: Application deadline if competing for principal forgiveness for the state fiscal year 2027 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program funding cycle. The DNR recommends that all applicants (even those not competing for principal forgiveness) submit an application by the June 30 deadline due to potential limitations on loan capacity. Information on this application process is available on the DNR’s Online Systems webpage.
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June 30, 2026: Readiness-to-proceed deadline for the state fiscal year 2026 Clean Water Fund Program principal forgiveness projects. All required bid documentation, including executed construction contracts, is due for wastewater and storm water projects. Failure to meet this deadline will result in forfeiture of principal forgiveness funds.
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July 9, 2026: At 1 p.m., the DNR will host a webinar to discuss changes in the state fiscal year 2027 Clean Water Fund Program draft intended use plan and respond to questions from attendees.
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July 19, 2026: The last date to submit written comments on the state fiscal year 2027 Clean Water Fund Program draft intended use plan to Casey.Sweeney@wisconsin.gov.
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Aug. 27, 2026: Requests for disbursements are due to the DNR at noon on Thursday, Aug. 27 to be paid on the disbursement date of Wednesday, Sept. 9 (schedule adjusted for Labor Day).
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Sept. 23, 2026: Final loan closing date for the state fiscal year 2026 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects.
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Sept. 30, 2026: Application deadline if competing for principal forgiveness for the state fiscal year 2027 Clean Water Fund Program funding cycle. The DNR recommends that all applicants (even those not competing for principal forgiveness) submit an application by the Sept. 30 deadline due to potential limitations on loan capacity. Information on this application process is available on the DNR’s Online Systems webpage.
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Sept. 30, 2026: Last recommended date for submitting Application to Increase Water Rates to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for the state fiscal year 2027 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program projects.
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October 2026: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2027 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program draft funding list.
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Oct. 29, 2026: Requests for disbursements are due to the DNR at noon on Thursday, Oct. 29 to be paid on the disbursement date of Tuesday, Nov. 10 (schedule adjusted for Veterans Day).
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Attention — Oct. 31, 2026: The notice of intent to apply (ITA) submittal requirements are expected to change and the Oct. 31 deadline is planned to be moved back—date to be determined—for the state fiscal year 2028 Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program funding cycles.
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Sign up for the newsletter to get updates about changes to the ITA requirements and deadline as additional information becomes available.
- Information on this pre-application process will be updated and made available on the DNR’s Intent to Apply webpage.
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November 2026: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2027 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program final funding list.
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December 2026: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2027 Clean Water Fund Program funding list.
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Dec. 11, 2026: Requests for disbursements are due to the DNR at noon on Friday, Dec. 11 to be paid on the disbursement date of Wednesday, Dec. 23. Note: No loan closings will occur on Dec. 23.
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Dec. 23, 2026: Disbursements will occur for those who submitted complete requests for disbursement by noon on Thursday, Dec. 11. Note: No loan closings will occur on Dec. 23.
Newsletter Subscription
For timely delivery of future newsletters and bulletins, please send an email request with your contact information to Kay Christensen, DNR Environmental Loans Section outreach coordinator, at Kay.Christensen@wisconsin.gov. She will add you to the email list. If you want, she can also remove you from this list.
The DNR Environmental Loans Section tries to publish a newsletter every 1-2 months. Previous newsletters and bulletins are available on our News webpage.
Note: You can also sign up to receive updates from the Wisconsin DNR on diverse topics.
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