(1) Provide grants, loans, and other financial assistance to or for the benefit of participants for:

(A) the planning, designing, acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of public water systems; and

(B) other activities necessary or convenient to complete the tasks referred to in clause (A) whether or not the other activities are permitted by the federal Clean Water Act or the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

(2) Provide grants, loans, or other financial assistance to or for the benefit of participants for:

(A) the planning, designing, acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of wastewater or storm water collection and treatment systems; and

(B) other activities necessary or convenient to complete the tasks referred to in clause (A) whether or not the other activities are permitted by the federal Clean Water Act or the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

(3) Provide grants, loans, or other financial assistance to or for the benefit of participants for the planning, designing, acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of septic relief systems in accordance with guidelines of the authority.

(4) Provide grants to political subdivisions for tasks associated with the development and preparation of:

(A) long term control plans;

(B) use attainability analyses; and

(C) storm water management programs.

(5) Undertake tasks associated with the development and preparation of water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure and resource analyses.

(6) Conduct all other activities that are permitted by the federal Clean Water Act or the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

     (b) The authority may make loans or provide other financial assistance from the water infrastructure assistance fund to or for the benefit of a participant to do any of the following:

(1) Establish guaranties, reserves, or sinking funds, including guaranties, reserves, or sinking funds to secure and pay, in whole or in part, loans or other financial assistance made from sources other than the fund (including financial institutions) for a purpose permitted by this chapter.

(2) Provide interest subsidies.

(3) Pay financing charges, including interest on the loan or other financial assistance:

(A) during design and construction of a water or wastewater infrastructure project based upon a viable financial plan; and

(B) for a reasonable period after the completion of construction.

As added by P.L.189-2018, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.56-2019, SEC.3; P.L.18-2022, SEC.6.