The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Jan. 19 announced a $42 million investment to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to address flood management and reduce flood risk in underserved communities.
The investment is helping fund the Waterway Flood Management & Restoration Project, according to an EPA press release.
“Investing in water infrastructure strengthens communities while creating good-paying jobs," EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said, according to the release. “This loan will help Milwaukee communities deal with the problems caused by their aging infrastructure and create a sustainable water system for the long-term.”
The release states that the project works to improve stormwater management by leveraging traditional and green solutions for infrastructure.
"This facility will be developed on 15 acres of abandoned industrial property, which will also be transformed into a green space," the release states. "In addition, MMSD will design and construct a 210-acre-foot flood storage basin to increase capacity of the culverts. It will also replace of 2,800 feet of concrete channel lining with natural channel designs and reconstruct 2,200 feet of non-concrete lined stream channel. Together, these projects will reduce flood risk to hundreds of residential and commercial buildings while decreasing sewer overflows. Incorporating green infrastructure will result in more green spaces and mitigate urban heat island effects in communities with environmental justice concerns."
WIFIA loans have given a total of $13.3 billion in financing for water infrastructure, according to the EPA.
WIFIA loans have helped 37 million people, according to the EPA.
“On behalf of our ratepayers, I want to thank the EPA for this low-interest loan that will help make homes and businesses in Milwaukee more resilient to flooding and kick off the cleanup of more than 100 years of polluted sediment in our rivers,” said Kevin Shafer, executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.
