WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt joined with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, Lt. Governor Tim Murray and other local officials at a press conference at the Deer Island Treatment Plant to announce that Massachusetts will receive over $185 million in stimulus funding for clean water projects.

“I am pleased to join with EPA Administrator Jackson, Congressman Capuano, and Lt. Governor Murray to announce a significant amount of stimulus funding to jumpstart a wide range of clean water projects throughout our region,” said Delahunt.  “These projects are not only critical in terms of protecting the environment but will also help to ease the burden on our cash-strapped local coastal communities.”

The majority of the $185 million in Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund funding is expected to go towards projects in the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) service area and the 10th congressional district.

The funding will help to ease the burden on the MWRA and get various projects on the South Shore and the Cape and Islands off the ground.

Projects in the 10th Congressional District that are likely to be funded include extension and improvements to the sewer system in the Town of Barnstable, expansion of wastewater treatment facilities in the Town of Chatham, rehabilitation of the sewer system in the Town of Nantucket, construction of a new water storage tank in the Town of Wellfleet, improving Cohasset’s public water distribution system, replacing asbestos cement water mains and upgrading two water treatment plants in Abington and Rockland, installing an automated water meter reading system and making improvement to pump stations in Quincy, as well as sewer construction in Scituate.  

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) also has a number of projects on the state’s revolving fund list. The MWRA is a Massachusetts public authority that provides wholesale water and sewer services to 2.5 million people and more than 5,500 large industrial users in 61 metropolitan Boston communities including Quincy, Hingham, and Weymouth. Projects in the MWRA that may be funded include construction and repair of water mains, rehabilitation of aqueducts, replacement rehabilitation and upgrading of the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the improvement of the condition of drinking water supply mains within the MWRA.

 

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