Section 265.33.5. Project priority.

       33.5(1) Priority for all projects. Priority shall be given to projects that will provide significant improvement to water quality in the relevant watershed; this criterion will be determined by the score given to a project by the department pursuant to the project priority rating system used for the water pollution control state revolving fund set forth in 567—Chapter 91, Iowa Administrative Code. For drinking water projects, priority will be determined by the project priority system used for the drinking water state revolving fund set forth in 567—Chapter 44, Iowa Administrative Code. Priority will also be given to projects based on the date upon which construction could begin.

       33.5(2) Small community assistance fund priority. Under the small community assistance fund, priority shall also be given to communities that have the greatest financial need. Factors used to determine need will include, but are not limited to: median household income as a percentage of the statewide median household income; residential user rates as a percentage of median household income; the existing and forecasted debt of the system; and the unemployment rate of the community.

       33.5(3) Large community assistance fund priority. Under the large community assistance fund, priority will be given to communities that did not receive funds from the I-Jobs disaster recovery program, the community development block grant (CDBG) disaster allocation or the State Revolving Fund (SRF) federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

[ARC 8080B, IAB 8/26/09, effective 9/30/09; ARC 8510B, IAB 2/10/10, effective 1/14/10; ARC 8725B, IAB 5/5/10, effective 6/9/10]