The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed a $38 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to modernize water infrastructure in Englewood, Colo. The money will be used to improve both drinking water and compliance with regulations.
Englewood is a "water constrained" community, making the funding vital.
"Drinking water utilities across the country, but most certainly in the west, are facing compounding issues – aging infrastructure, emerging contaminants, climate impacts, and severe drought," Radhika Fox, assistant administrator of the EPA’s Office of Water, said in an agency news release this week.
Fox went on to express excitement for the project.
“I’m thrilled that Englewood will be using their second WIFIA loan to increase resiliency and provide cleaner, safer water, all while saving their residents money and creating good-paying jobs," she said in the release. "These are the exact types of projects that EPA will be funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in communities across the country.”
Government officials commented on the importance of the project.
“The EPA’s $38 million WIFIA loan will be critical to modernizing our water treatment plant, addressing lead service lines, and making our water system safer and more resilient," Englewood Mayor Othoniel Sierra said in the release. "We feel very fortunate to access this level of funding with much lower borrowing costs. It allows the City to make these critical improvements while keeping rates affordable for our customers.”
Other officials discussed specifically how the money will relate to Colorado.
“Colorado Front Range communities must prioritize resiliency as we continue to grow and as climate change brings about and intensifies extreme weather," KC Becker, EPA regional administrator, said in the release. "By taking advantage of EPA’s WIFIA loan program, the City of Englewood is leading the pack, prioritizing clean water access while creating good-paying jobs.”
