Drinking Water Fund loans to finance projects in
Groton, Norwich, New Britain, Bethel
The Department of Public Health (DPH) announced today that $40 million in low interest loans to protect the state’s public drinking water by financing local projects aimed at improving water treatment plants and other facilities was approved by the State Bond Commission on Friday, May 27th.
"By working closely with public water systems, the State of Connecticut continues to ensure that public drinking water infrastructure is maintained in working order and is sustainable into the future. The funding approved by the Bond Commission will ensure that this important work will continue," said DPH Commissioner Raul Pino. "As a result, our residents will continue to receive high-quality potable drinking water."
The package approved by the Bond Commission will make it possible for the state’s Drinking Water Fund (DWF) to provide low-interest loans to local and regional public water systems for drinking water improvement projects. Under this program, loans are repaid at approximately half the market interest rate over 20 years.
Projects to be supported by funds approved for release by the Bond Commission include:
- Groton Utilities water treatment plant upgrade project: An additional $8 million, for a total funding of $42 million, for a major upgrade of the surface water treatment plant. Groton will make significant improvements to its plant to improve water quality, modernize treatment technologies and upgrade aged facilities. The plant was originally constructed in 1938, and improvements to the facility are crucial for long-term infrastructure sustainability.
- Norwich Public Utilities water treatment plant, and distribution system upgrades: $13.5 million for water treatment plant filtration upgrades, finished water transmission main improvements, and construction of a new water storage tank to improve water quality.
- New Britain Water Department system improvements: $1.2 million for the design of source of supply improvements, an emergency generator for the surface water treatment plant and water main replacements.
- Bethel Water Department booster pump station and well field improvements: $2.2 million for upgrades to a booster pump station and to replace a diminishing source of groundwater supply.
- Additional Projects in Communities Across the State: $15.1 million for a variety of projects, including emergency generators for small water systems, water main replacements, water source improvements, water treatment plant upgrades, and other water system facility improvements.
"These important projects are just a few examples of how the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program enhances the DPH’s mission of public health protection," said Lori Mathieu, Public Health Section Chief of the DPH Drinking Water Section. "The provision of potable drinking water is recognized as one of the great public health achievements in history. This funding demonstrates that the State of Connecticut is committed to ensuring that public drinking water infrastructure is sustainable for future generations."
Since the DWF was created in 1997, more than 72 Connecticut public water systems have received loans to assist in financing more than 125 projects to improve public drinking water, including treatment plant projects. Under the program, approximately $220 million in funding has been provided to public water systems. The program is administered by DPH with the support of the Office of the State Treasurer and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.