The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized 20 innovative clean water infrastructure projects for Excellence in Problem Solving, a recent news release from the agency said.
One of those projects was the Aquifer Storage and Restoration project in the City of Hastings, Neb., which decreased nitrate contaminant levels and provided an economical solution for treated drinking water for the city's residents.
The projects were funded by the National Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and recognized under the PISCES (Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success) 2022 program. The PISCES 2022 program recognizes innovative clean water state revolving fund programs implemented by assistance recipients, including state or local governments, public utilities and private entities.
“Clean water is essential, and we applaud the City of Hastings for their innovative engineering solution that increased water quality, while removing the need for a costly new water treatment plant," Meg McCollister, EPA Region 7 administrator, said in the release. “We look forward to seeing more projects like this throughout the Heartland, thanks to the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments in clean water.”
The SRFs, which are EPA-state partnerships, provide communities with a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects, the release said. More than $43 billion in funding will be provided to the SRFs over five years following the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021. This will help fund community water infrastructure improvement projects, especially in disadvantaged communities.
These funds have provided more than $216 billion in assistance to over 46,000 water quality infrastructure projects and more than 18,000 drinking water projects across the U.S., the release said.
Aside from Hastings, other exceptional projects recognized by the PISCES program include the Kearny Town Redevelopment of Recreational Complex in New Jersey, the STEP Collection System Dupont-Cloverdale Wastewater Plant in Ohio, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District Programmatic Loan in Virginia and the Coalwood Sewer Project – Phase 1 in West Virginia; an EPA report said. The City of Van Buren/Deer Run Reorganized Common Sewer District received an honorable mention for its wastewater treatment project, which was conducted using funds allocated through the Missouri Clean Water SRF.
