New ASDWA White Paper Highlights State Preliminary Engineering Report Requirements and Water System Project Planning Needs for the EPA Environmental Finance Centers

ASDWA worked with its Small Systems Committee to develop the new “White Paper for the EPA Environmental Finance Centers: State Preliminary Engineering Report Requirements and Planning Needs for Water System Projects.” The purpose of the paper is to ensure the effectiveness of the 29 Environmental Finance Centers’ (EFCs’) efforts to assist small and disadvantaged water systems with project plans and Preliminary Engineering Reports (PERs). The paper emphasizes that the EFCs should coordinate directly with state drinking water programs to ensure that PERs (sometimes referred to as “project plans” or “general plans”) adhere to the state-specific requirements, and go beyond the requirements to consider all potential project alternatives and funding sources to address water system needs.

The ASDWA White Paper provides an overview of the state PER requirements and water system project planning needs, and shares examples from different states. State requirements for plans and PERs are different in every state and may include project approval processes; stamps by licensed engineers in the state; and procurement requirements for hiring (or subcontracting) an engineering firm to develop PERs. The content of the plans and PERs for water system projects should include a thorough analysis of alternative solutions and funding options that consider the water system’s Technical, Managerial and Financial (TMF) Capacity, long-term sustainability, affordability, technical assistance and operator certification needs, and other associated factors. This information is intended to support the EFCs as they assist small and disadvantaged water systems in selecting from a range of alternative solutions and funding options. For more information, read the ASDWA White Paper here.