1. (a) General. The CWSRF is intended to be a perpetual fund to provide low interest loan assistance for the construction of waste treatment works, for implementing a management program for nonpoint source pollution under the Act, §319, and for developing and implementing a conservation and management plan under the National Estuary Program under the Act, §320.
2. (b) Regionalization. In accordance with the provisions of House Bill 2, 69th Legislature, 1985, the board will encourage local political subdivisions of the state to implement regional wastewater treatment facilities consistent with the Texas water plan and the water quality management plan.
3. (c) Water conservation. It is the policy of the board to promote the conservation of water in the state by requiring implementation of those practices, techniques, and technologies that will reduce the consumption of water, reduce the loss or waste of water, improve efficiency in the use of water, or increase the recycling and reuse of water so that a water supply is made available for future or alternative uses.
4. (d) Environmental protection. It is the policy of the board to preserve, protect, restore and enhance the waters of the state and to prevent, reduce and eliminate water pollution throughout the state. It is further the policy of the board to support the political subdivisions of the state and to provide financial aid with low interest loans for the prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution.
5. (e) Management of financial resources. It is the policy of the board to structure financial assistance to applicants, including providing state matching funds in excess of that required by the Act when necessary and feasible, such that the board may maximize financial resources available to the state. It is further the policy of the board to satisfy the requirements of the Act and the requirements associated with any grants of federal funds.
6. (f) Projects expedited. It is the policy of the board to take measures as appropriate and necessary to expedite projects undertaken with the CWSRF. This may include, but would not be limited to, streamlining procedures for compliance with applicable federal requirements. The board will strive to ensure that CWSRF funding is efficiently and appropriately applied so that it meets the intent of federal requirements while attending to state goals for water quality management and the needs of the political subdivisions that the program is meant to serve.
7. (g) Force account. It is the policy of this board that all significant elements of the project be constructed with skilled laborers and mechanics obtained through the competitive bidding process. The board will not approve the use of force account in the major construction of the project, but may approve the use of force account for inspection and/or minor construction when the applicant demonstrates that it possesses the necessary competence required to accomplish such work and that the work can be accomplished more economically by the use of the force account method, or emergency circumstances dictate its use.

Source Note:The provisions of this §375.3 adopted to be effective February 11, 1999, 24 TexReg 769.