EPA backs Colorado’s plan to improve water quality with $24.9 million in water infrastructure funding

DENVER (Dec. 8, 2017) – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded approximately $10.6 million in clean water infrastructure and $14.3 million in drinking water state revolving loan funding (SRF) to the state of Colorado to support key water infrastructure projects, including new and upgraded wastewater and drinking water plants to ensure clean drinking and surface water, better serve residents, increase efficiency and reduce pollution.

“Investing in our nation’s water infrastructure is one of EPA’s most fundamental priorities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Doug Benevento. “These projects will ensure that the state and its communities are providing clean and safe water to all the residents of Colorado.”

“The State Revolving Fund programs are critical for Colorado as they have provided the ability to fund more than $1.2 billion for clean water and $600 million for drinking water infrastructure projects throughout the state”, said Pat Pfaltzgraff, Director of the Water Quality Control Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  “The SRF programs continue to help offset the $12 billion dollar funding gap and provide low cost, affordable financing to protect public health and the environment in Colorado.”

In addition to the $24.9 million just funded, Colorado’s water infrastructure projects are also funded with state match, repayments from prior SRF loans, and interest earnings. Several projects targeted for wastewater treatment as well as drinking water SRF loans include:

• $58m for an intake structure, raw water piping, a water treatment plant, pump station, and distribution lines in the Breckenridge.
• $2.5 m to replace existing water system storage capacity and removing existing failing water storage tanks from service in Bennett.
• $2.3 m for a centralized blending system to connect two new wells, and six existing wells to a central location; including transmission mains, ground storage tank, control system, and distribution system upgrades in Burlington.
• $1.6 m in Grand Lake for water treatment improvements and the purchase and installation of water meters.
• $1.4m in Lamar to replace the distribution and service pipelines along with associated appurtenances.
• $1.5m for a UV disinfection at the existing water treatment plant and adding backup power at the water treatment plant as well as the water galleries in Salida.
• $1m in Oak Creek to replace 1700lf 6-12″ water main, hydrants, service lines, curb and gutter, meter pits along Hwy 131 including new 6″ overlay.
• $500k in Cedaredge for construction of new distribution lines and distribution line replacement.
• $483k in Eads for well improvements, raw water transmission line replacement, distribution system line replacement, disinfection contact piping, fire hydrants, valves, and associated appurtenances.
• $61m to the City of Durango to upgrade the secondary treatment processes of the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant to address capacity issues and to meet effluent requirements.
• $43m to the City of Evans to construct a new lift station, force main and new consolidated wastewater treatment facility.
• $6.6m to the Town of Bennett to construct a new mechanical wastewater treatment facility to replace the existing lagoon system.
• $3.2m to the Academy Water and Sanitation District to install a new lift station and force main to consolidate with Donola Water and Sanitation District and decommission the Academy Water and Sanitation District Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• $2.5m to update the existing treatment facility in Crested Butte and provide required process tank redundancy, replace the existing UV disinfection system, replace the mechanical bar screen, and construct an oxidation ditch.
• $2m to the Town of Nederland to construct wastewater treatment facility upgrades, new dewatering building, and new aerobic digester.
• $720k to the City of Las Animas for replacement of deteriorating sanitary sewer collection piping segments, manholes, and associated appurtenances.
• $650k to the Hi-Land Acres Water and Sanitation District to decommission the existing lagoon system and repair/replacement of existing collection lines. Construct a connection and consol consolidation between Hi-Land Acres Water and Sanitation District and an adjacent system
• $320k to the Larimer County – Wonderview Condos Association to enhance and replace the collection system.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. The CWSRF program provides low interest loans for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and other projects vital to protecting and improving water quality in rivers, lakes and streams for drinking water, recreation and natural habitat.  The loans help communities keep water and sewer rates more affordable while addressing local water quality problems. https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program is a federal-state partnership to help ensure safe drinking water. Created by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) the program provides financial support to water systems and to state safe water programs. https://www.epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf

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