Water Infrastructure Investment PlanWater Infrastructure Investment Plan Logo


The Department is responsible for the administration of a number of state and federally funded programs for the planning, design, and/or construction of water infrastructure projects including wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater/nonpoint source management programs.

The New Jersey Water Bank (NJWB) is now accepting all loan applications on a rolling basis through the online application system, H2Loans. There are no submission deadlines.

Eligible applicants should contact The Water Bank. NJWB staff will begin working on submissions immediately upon receipt and approval will be given upon satisfaction of program requirements.

Loan application documents can now be submitted at any time throughout the calendar year. To begin an application, you need to set up an H2LOans account at https://www.h2loans.com/.

Please contact us at 609-633-1170 or waterbankinfo@dep.nj.gov to schedule a pre-planning meeting to learn more about the application process or discuss issues unique to their project.

The financing process for Capital Improvement Projects is comprised of four main steps:

  • Pre-Advertising
  • Pre-Construction
  • Construction/Short Term Financing
  • Long-Term Financing

Applicants and their representatives must follow these steps and submit all required documents to maintain the project schedule.

For questions, please contact the DEP at 609-633-1170 or waterbankinfo@dep.nj.gov

Capital Improvement Project

  • Before advertising applicants must have:
    • An account created on our online portal ( H2LOans)
    • Project information and loan application form submitted online
    • Planning documents submitted online
    • Contract and plans submitted online (include comptroller review for applications over $10M)
    • Socially and Economically Disadvantaged (SED) approval received
    • Engineer’s agreement for construction oversight approved
    • Project specific permits approved

The DEP will review submitted documents for compliance with rules and regulations. Review letters will be issued by the DEP that may ask for additional steps to be taken and an Environmental Decision Document (EDD) will be issued and communicated to all interested parties. When all steps have been satisfied, the project will be given Authorization to Advertise.

  • Before construction begins applicants must:
    • Publicly bid project
    • Submit award package online
    • Hold preconstruction conference with DEP and SED in attendance
    • Issue notice to proceed

The DEP will review submitted documents and issue an Authorization to Award when found acceptable. The project will then begin construction.

  • Loan closing
    • Submitted financial addendum form
    • Submitted credit worthiness online
  • Construction begins and applicants must:
    • Submit payment request with invoices
    • Participate in scheduled DEP inspections
  • After construction is complete applicants:
    • Submit 1 year complete certification
    • Enter long term financing

Planning and Design Project

  • Submit project scope online
  • Submit agreement with engineer online

Project will be financed with a short-term loan and be rolled into the resulting capital improvement project long term financing or paid back in 3 years.