NEW: RI Awarded $18.2 Million by EPA to Improve Water Projects
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
The State of Rhode Island has been awarded $18.2 million by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in order to help finance improvements to water projects that are important to protecting public health and the environment.
The funds will be mostly used to upgrade sewage plants and drinking water systems, along with replacing old infrastructure throughout the state.
“This funding will pay for projects that improve water quality and protect drinking water across Rhode Island, and will provide benefits for decades to come. Clean drinking water and proper wastewater treatment are fundamental to protecting people’s health, but aging water infrastructure needs to be upgraded and repaired. EPA’s funding will help continue Rhode Island’s program to invest in drinking water and wastewater systems and protect people’s health," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office.
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The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, administrated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank received $9.4 million.
The funding provides low interest loans for water quality protection projects.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, which is administrated by the Rhode Island Department of Health and RIIB, received $8.8 million.
This funding provides low interest loans to help finance improvements to to the drinking water systems.
EPA Funding
Since the start of the programs, the EPA has awarded approximately $443 million to Rhode Island for the construction, expansion and upgrading of clean water infrastructure resulting in a decrease of pollutant loadings to water bodies across the state.
“Rhode Island is a stronger state because of our robust partnership with the EPA. Working with Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management and Department of Health, the Infrastructure Bank will leverage the EPA’s significant investment to lend municipalities more than $65 million in low-cost loans for water infrastructure projects. These key investments in our infrastructure will stimulate economic growth, further improve Rhode Island’s drinking water quality, and protect our environment for generations to come," said Joseph Dewhirst, Interim Executive Director of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.
For more information on the EPA, click here.
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