Federal and state grants are being pursued as the primary funding sources, supplemented with federal and state loans to be repaid through affordable user rates and future Local Options Tax revenue. The system's construction and operation are designed not to impact the Waitsfield municipal tax rate.

Planning and design have been ongoing since 2021 and moved into the Final Design phase in January 2024.

The project design is expected to be completed, including final permitting approvals, by June 2026. Before finalizing the design, additional topographic surveys and underground utility verifications will be conducted throughout spring 2026.

The wastewater treatment facility and disposal system at the Town-owned Munn Site will require clearing ~2.5 acres of trees. Tree clearing at this site is scheduled to occur before April 15, 2026, to meet funding and environmental requirements. Procurement is underway, and Town staff are in the process of notifying nearby property owners.

The project is expected to enter the Bid Phase in summer 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in fall 2026.

On 6/11/24, the voters of the Town of Waitsfield passed a bond vote for the Community Wastewater Project by a margin of 3:1 (415 yes to 140 no). This served as a major project milestone, permitting the pursuit of federal and state funding to proceed with the project.

The Waitsfield Community Wastewater Project has obtained substantial funding to support both design and early construction stages. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) have covered all engineering and final design expenses and are anticipated to fund the initial construction phase.

ARPA & VWWW Funding

In mid-September 2024, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) informed the Town of Waitsfield that it had received $2,508,085 in State American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Village Water & Wastewater (VWWW) Initiative funding. Later, in April 2025, Waitsfield was notified that it had been chosen to receive an additional $1,000,000 from this program. The town’s selection for these awards partly depends on the project’s position on the State of Vermont's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) 2025 Project Priority List (PPL). This funding will cover all final design activities for the project through bid-ready contract documents (ESA Amendment #3), with the rest allocated for construction. All ARPA VWWW funds must be spent by 9/30/27.

CWSRF

Due to the Town’s high ranking on Vermont’s FFY25/SFY26 CWSRF Intended Use Plan (IUP), the project qualifies for CWSRF construction financing. This includes eligibility for a 50% subsidy and up to $1 million in loan principal forgiveness, with a deadline of June 30, 2026. The IUP covers key program details, such as Project Priority Lists (PPL), subsidies, loan forgiveness, and loan terms. To stay eligible for funding, the Town submitted a new Project Priority List application to VT DEC on February 6, 2026, for the FFY26/SFY27 funding cycle; results are expected in the next IUP draft, anticipated this summer.

Additional Funding Efforts

Additional funding efforts have been successful across multiple programs. The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Catalyst Program awarded the Town $1 million in fall 2025 to support connections to Waitsfield School; the project is currently undergoing NEPA review. The Town has also secured a USDA Rural Development package, consisting of a $649,000 grant and a $7.552 million loan.

The Town has submitted applications for FY27 Congressionally Directed Spending requests from Vermont’s three representatives—Rep. Balint, Sen. Welch, and Sen. Sanders—seeking EPA STAG Clean Water SRF funding to further support the construction of the project.

RCAP Solutions created an initial draft of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and Vulnerability Assessment for Waitsfield’s Wastewater Treatment Facility in late February 2026. This work is a requirement for the Town’s upcoming USDA Rural Development Loan for Waitsfield’s Community Wastewater Project. RCAP Solutions performed this work at no cost to the Town of Waitsfield, as it was part of RCAP’s contract for technical assistance related to disaster issues for community facilities.

The Waitsfield Water Commission is in the process of developing a draft Wastewater Ordinance for future consideration by the Waitsfield Selectboard. Water Commission members have experience in this area, having drafted the Water Ordinance currently in place.

If you have questions or comments about the Waitsfield Wastewater Planning Project, please email JB Weir, Waitsfield Planning & Zoning Administrator and Wastewater Project Team member, at jb.weir@waitsfieldvt.gov or (802) 496-2218 ext. 4.