EPA awards R.I. $18.2M for water infrastructure projects

THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency  awarded $18.2 million to the state of Rhode Island to help finance improvements to water projects.
THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency awarded $18.2 million to the state of Rhode Island to help finance improvements to water projects.

BOSTON – The state of Rhode Island has received $18.2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help fund improvements to water projects to protect public health and the environment.
Sewage plants and drinking water systems will be upgraded, and aging infrastructure also will be replaced, according to a news release from the federal agency.
“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,” Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, said in a statement.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, overseen by the R.I. Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, received $9.4 million. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, administrated by the R.I. Department of Health and RIIB, received $8.8 million.
The funding provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects to make improvements to wastewater treatment systems, control pollution from storm water runoff and protect sensitive water bodies and estuaries, the release said.
Low-interest loans also are available to finance improvements to drinking water systems, the release continued.

Joseph Dewhirst, interim executive director of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, said that 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,” he said.

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