News
$135 million for clean water projects
By Governor Rell's office
Jul 24, 2008 - 10:14:50 AM

Governor M. Jodi Rell today continued her commitment to improving the overall health and quality of Connecticut’s rivers, streams and Long Island Sound by announcing that $135 million in grants and loans for local wastewater infrastructure projects is expected to be approved at the August 4 meeting of the state Bond Commission.

“The health of the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and Long Island Sound is essential to our overall quality of life,” Governor Rell said. “These bodies of water link our communities, providing endless recreational opportunities and supporting habitats for thousands of wildlife and aquatic species.

“I have made an unprecedented commitment to restoring the health of the state’s waterways. In the last seven months alone, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in local projects that, collectively, will result in cleaner rivers and streams and a healthier Long Island Sound.”

Various categories of projects qualify for a different mix of Clean Water Fund state grants and loans. Loans offered under the program are at 2 percent interest for 20 years. The CWF is administered by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Office of the Treasurer. DEP maintains a priority list of projects and once Bond Commission approval is obtained, the funding is allocated to top projects that are ready to move forward.

State Clean Water projects that are likely to move forward as a result of this funding include:

· West Haven – upgrade of the city’s sewage treatment plant to include nitrogen removal capability.

· Norwalk – improvements to the influent pump station and preliminary treatment processes will occur at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, providing for higher levels of nitrogen removal and improved treatment capabilities for combined sewage at the plant.

Metropolitan District Commission, New Haven Water Pollution Authority, and Bridgeport – these cities will undertake improvements to their combined sewer systems that will reduce the volume of combined sewage discharged during rain events.

The types of projects covered by the CWF include:

· Construction, upgrades or expansion of local sewage treatment plants

· Expanding the capability of local sewage treatment plants to remove nitrogen from wastewater in order to protect the water quality of Long Island Sound

· Building sewers to solve community pollution problems

· Construction of either new sanitary sewers or new storm sewers to eliminate overflows caused by single pipe sewer systems that carry both sanitary sewage and storm water.

“We are making a major and historical investment in the infrastructure located in our towns and cities that help keep our waters clean,” Governor Rell said. “This infusion of funding is not only an investment in environmental protection, it is also an investment in our towns and cities – allowing them to provide essential services to their residents and to grow and develop responsibly with updated and modernized treatment systems.”

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