Contact Information

  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gregoire approves Recovery Act funding for five clean water projects in state

For Immediate Release: November 5, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire and the state Department of Ecology today announced five new clean-water construction projects that are ready to receive a total of $11.4 million in Recovery Act funding.

The funding will pay for improvements and efficiencies at wastewater treatment plants, expansions of wastewater collection systems, and projects to re-use or �reclaim� wastewater. Reclaimed water is cleansed water that is re-used for many non-drinking uses such as irrigation of urban landscaping and public parks. It can help recharge underground water supplies and increase flows in streams.

�With a strong partnership from President Obama and Congress, we are putting this economic recovery money to work,� Gregoire said. �This funding creates more than 130 immediate jobs in communities around our state while also strengthening local and state economic security for decades to come. Clean water powers businesses, homes and communities.�

The city of Bremerton will receive funding for two projects that will benefit water quality in Gorst Creek and Sinclair Inlet of Puget Sound.

The Gorst septic system replacement project will receive $1.3 million to construct low-pressure sewers, grinder pumps, and sanitary sewer lateral lines on private property in conjunction with eliminating residential septic systems. Of the total funding, $110,000 is a low-interest loan, and the remaining $1.2 million constituting a �forgivable principal loan,� or money that does not need to be repaid.

Bremerton�s Gorst sewerage project gets $4.1 million. The project will install major sewer lines, pump stations, and equipment to develop a sewer collection system for the Gorst urban growth area. Of the total funding, $110,000 is a low-interest loan, with the remaining $4 million constituting a �forgivable principal loan,� or money that does not need to be repaid.

Both Bremerton projects will serve an older, urbanized residential area platted and developed before current residential sewage system regulations. The projects eliminate old and failing septic tanks.

Nearly $2.8 million in Recovery Funds will support the LOTT Alliance, a sewer utility for Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater to construct a water pipeline to carry reclaimed water from the Budd Inlet wastewater treatment plant to Tumwater. Diverting reclaimed water, or reusing highly treated wastewater, benefits municipal water uses and reduces pollution levels in Budd Inlet. Tumwater will purchase the water from LOTT, identify uses, then build additional pipelines to deliver the water for uses including irrigation. The project qualifies for funding in the Recovery Act�s �green project reserve� category due to the water efficiency it creates. Half of this funding amount is low-interest loan, the other half does not have to be repaid.

The city of Richland will receive $2.5 million to improve an aeration basin at its wastewater treatment plant. This is also a �green reserve project� as it helps the community make a sustainable choice that protects water quality in the Columbia River while reducing energy costs. The project will remove inefficient turbine aerators and install high efficiency aerators. Aeration is essential for effective wastewater treatment. Half of this funding is low-interest loan, and the other half does not have to be repaid.

The city of Kittitas will receive $742,000 to improve the city�s existing wastewater treatment facility that serves 1,130 residents. The improvements will improve reliability and performance of the facility and protect water quality in Cooke Creek. Of the total amount of funding, $482,000 is a low-interest loan and the remaining doesn�t have to be repaid.

Economic Recovery Act at a glance:

On June 11, the federal Environmental Protection Agency approved the list of prioritized infrastructure projects slated to receive $65.4 million of financial assistance in the form of federal stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Projects eligible for the Recovery Act funds are publicly owned water pollution control facilities and associated activities that are ready to proceed to construction. The funds will arrive in the form of low-interest loans and additional subsidies through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The Washington Department of Ecology will administer the funding.

The funding will help local governments pay for water pollution control infrastructure including the upgrade and expansion of wastewater, reclaimed water and stormwater facilities, and green infrastructure projects that improve water or energy efficiency, or other environmentally innovative activities.

For a complete list of the projects, see State Revolving Fund FY 2010 Final Intended Use Plan posted on Ecology�s Web site at: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/funding/StimFunding/FedStimFundsSRF.html

Washington state is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov, enabling every Washingtonian to see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden, a proven and aggressive inspector general, to oversee the recovery efforts of all the states and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars aren�t wasted.

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Ecology media contact: Sandy Howard, 360-407-6408; 360-791-3177 (cell); [email protected]

Department of Ecology American Recovery and Reinvestment Projects:

www.ecy.wa.gov/recovery/index.html

Status of Ecology projects

www.ecy.wa.gov/recovery/docs/ARRAprojects_status.pdf