The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $24 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Sandy, Oregon. This funding will support efforts to modernize wastewater facilities and enhance water quality in local waterways.
"Clean and safe water is essential to vibrant communities," stated Bruno Pigott, EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water. "Through WIFIA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is working with states and communities to upgrade water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment while creating jobs." Pigott highlighted that the EPA is financing nearly 80% of this project to reduce costs and strengthen local waters.
Casey Sixkiller, EPA Region 10 Administrator, remarked on the significance of this investment: "This EPA low-cost financing is an investment in clean waters entering the Sandy and Columbia Rivers. We’re proud to partner with the City of Sandy to chart an affordable path forward to improve water quality, protect human health, and safeguard the natural environment for critical species."
The City of Sandy plans to use this funding for improvements in its wastewater treatment system, including rehabilitating its collection system, upgrading the treatment plant, and planning a new outfall to the Sandy River. These efforts aim to increase water resiliency and meet discharge permit requirements while preventing sanitary sewer overflows into Tickle Creek.
City Manager Tyler Deems expressed satisfaction with securing this funding: “The City of Sandy is pleased to secure this critical component of our funding package for Sandy Clean Waters, our wastewater system improvement project. We are fortunate to have partners at the EPA who understand that financial assistance from the federal government is vital to ensuring that utility rates remain affordable for residents of our small town while we complete these capital investments.”
The WIFIA loan will cover nearly 80% of project costs for Sandy's community of 13,000 residents. Combined with $7 million from the Oregon Clean Water State Revolving Fund, it offers low-cost financing expected to save approximately $2.6 million and create around 80 jobs.
Since its inception, EPA's WIFIA program has provided over $20 billion in financing for water infrastructure projects nationwide. The program aims to accelerate investments by offering long-term credit assistance for significant projects.
Currently in its eighth selection round for WIFIA financing, EPA offers $6.5 billion through WIFIA loans and $1 billion through SWIFIA loans exclusively for state infrastructure borrowers. The agency is accepting letters of interest from potential applicants.
