(BOSTON 4/9/2024) – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently announced this year’s Intended Use Plan, awarding over $500 million to finance drinking water projects across the Commonwealth through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and over $930 million to finance wastewater projects in MA through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. Amongst the 48 projects funded by the DWSRF, five are located in the Second Worcester District, including in the Towns of Auburn, Grafton, Millbury, and Shrewsbury. Of the 50 projects funded by the CWSRF, two are located in the Second Worcester District, including in the Town of Shrewsbury and the City of Worcester.
The programs, financed through joint federal-state initiatives including President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide subsidized loans and grants to protect the health of the public by improving drinking water infrastructure, updating wastewater infrastructure, and protecting drinking water supplies.
“The safety and security of our drinking water supply and wastewater treatment systems are essential to maintaining the health of our communities,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased that MassDEP has selected several towns and cities in my district to receive generous funding that will allow local officials to make vital upgrades to their systems. Filtering out toxic PFAS chemicals, expanding treatment capacity, and replacing outdated equipment are important projects that will pay dividends long into the future as our communities continue to grow – I’d like to thank the Healey Administration and MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple for moving these initiatives forward.”
The five projects receiving funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program include:
Auburn Water District
Arsenic and PFAS removal WTP for South Street Well
$12,240,000
Grafton Water District
East St. and Worcester St. PFAS Treatment Upgrades
$15,000,000
South Grafton Water District
PFAS Treatment Plant for Wells #2 and #3
$4,200,000
Aquarion Water Company of Massachusetts – Millbury
Jacques Wells Water Treatment Facility
$7,775,000
The two projects receiving funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program include:
Shrewsbury
Walnut St PS upgrade & FM/sewer replacement
$5,040,200
Worcester
Holden Street Pump Station rehabilitation project
$6,511,000
This round of funding supports 49 clean water construction projects totaling approximately $932 million and 50 drinking water construction projects totaling approximately $503 million. An additional $8 million will be offered as grants for 69 Asset Management Planning projects. These initiatives will help address issues increasingly confronting municipalities, including PFAS contamination, elevated lead levels in drinking water, and failed septic systems.
MassDEP will open the next State Revolving Fund solicitation for proposals by May 15, 2024.
More information on the State Revolving Fund programs can be found on MassDEP’s website.
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