(November 14, 2018) - The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 30 clean water infrastructure projects last week for excellence and innovation within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, and NACWA members were among the honorees.

EPA’s Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programs and assistance recipients. NACWA congratulates the following Association members that were honored:

Exceptional Project

• City of Wilmington Department of Public Works (DE) – Renewable Energy and Biosolids Facility

  The City of Wilmington’s wastewater treatment facility received a $36 million CWSRF loan to construct a renewable energy and biosolids facility for its treatment plant. This new facility captures previously flared methane gas from the plant’s anaerobic digester and gas from a nearby landfill and uses it to generate four megawatts of electricity.

• City of Prineville (OR) - Crooked River Wetlands Complex
  The City of Prineville used CWSRF funding to design and construct the 120-acre Crooked River Wetlands Complex, which will help meet the effluent limits in the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater permit. The Wetlands Complex has miles of trails open for public use and an outdoor classroom used by local schools. 

Honorable Mention

• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (CA) - Lake Merced Green Infrastructure

• Avon Lake Regional Water (OH) – Lateral Loan Program

Recognized Project

• City of Liberty (MO) - Design-Build Wastewater Treatment Facility

• Renewable Water Resources (SC) - Reedy River Basin Sewer Tunnel

The projects recognized by the 2018 PISCES program were originated by state/local governments, public utilities and private entities, and included a variety of initiatives ranging from large wastewater infrastructure projects to small decentralized and agriculture projects.

The CWSRF is a federal EPA-state partnership that provides communities a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. Over the past 31 years, CWSRF programs have provided more than $132 billion in financing for water quality infrastructure.