Seattle — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in a news release Thursday that it will help fund a $22 million program for critical drinking water projects in Washington and a $253.5 million program to improve wastewater infrastructure.
In addition to this funding round, Congress recently passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which will inject an additional $152 million in 2022 into Washington’s two-state revolving fund program.
According to a press release, the EPA’s Drinking Water National Revolving Fund program provides below-market rate loans for the construction of drinking water treatment facilities and other projects and activities critical to ensuring clean and safe drinking water at the tap to important. These loans help communities maintain more affordable water rates while addressing local water infrastructure challenges. Likewise, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund helps states fund large-scale wastewater and other water quality projects.
Some of the projects that will be funded in the state’s 2021-2022 drinking water plan include:
• $2,455,000 to Kitsap Utilities District 1 to fund the integration of Bill Point’s water system and address aging infrastructure.
• $2,012,546 to the City of Omak to install an arsenic treatment unit at Julia Maley Park Well. The treatment will also remove high levels of iron.
• $5,050,000 to Skagit County Utility District #1 to help fund Phase 2 of the Judy Reservoir to Mount Vernon Transmission Line. The project will replace 5 miles of undersized and faulty main transmission lines.
• $1,234,500 to Kiona West Heights Association to replace the community’s only well. The project includes drilling a new well, constructing a new well house and installing a chlorination unit. Communities are eligible for Vulnerable Assistance, so half of the loan amount will be forgiven.
The list of wastewater treatment projects proposed to be funded by the state includes:
• $3,126,183 to the City of Brewster for unreliable infrastructure within the collection system and wastewater treatment plant. Communities are eligible for Vulnerable Assistance.
• $1,024,090 to the Chelan County Utility District to improve the Dryden Wastewater Treatment Facility. These improvements will benefit the Wenatchee River. Communities are eligible for Vulnerable Assistance.
• Provided $424,250 to the City of Harrington to retrofit the City of Harrington Wastewater Treatment Plant. These retrofits will eliminate leaks from treatment ponds, prevent nearby water contamination, remove odors from sludge and reduce operating costs. Communities are eligible for Vulnerable Assistance.
• $9,004,053 for the City of Stevenson Public Works for two projects. The first is the upgrading and expansion of sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. The second is the addition of a collection system of approximately 900 linear feet. Communities are eligible for Vulnerable Assistance.
• $242,666 to the Yakima County Department of Human Services to improve the Buena Wastewater Treatment Facility. The project will upgrade the wastewater treatment facility and provide hardware to improve facility monitoring and reliability. Communities are eligible for Vulnerable Assistance.
