RECOGNITION PROGRAM ------- Director's Address The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is proud to recognize clean water projects that demonstrate excellence through the Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program. These projects promote EPAs mission of protecting human health and the environment and exemplify the innovative, flexible, and collaborative nature of the program. Since its inception in 1987 as a federal-state partnership, the CWSRF has provided over $145 billion in financing to water quality projects across the country. The affordable assistance provided by all 50 states and Puerto Rico produces multiple benefits in communities and watersheds across the country. The projects we showcase here deliver wastewater utility upgrades, community revitalization, economic investment, municipal partnerships, healthy ecosystems and much more. Hie CWSRF helps communities afford solutions that are innovative, modern, water and energy efficient, sustainable and resilient to their water quality challenges. By working creatively with the future in mind, these communities have created lasting benefits for not only the environment, but for the public health and the economy as well. I thank all the assistance recipients recognized in this compendium, as well as the CWSRF programs that highlighted them for recognition. We appreciate your dedication to ensuring water quality in our communities and your commitment to the continuing success of this important program. Thank you. Andrew Sawyers, Ph.D., Director Office of Wastewater Management ------- Table of Contents Director's Address i Recognizing Success ii Projects Map 1 Project List 2 Florida Department of Environmental Protection 3 Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund 4 Minnesota Public Facilities Authority 5 New Mexico Environment Department 6 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 7 Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation 8 Alabama Department of Environmental Management 8 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control 9 Arkansas Natural Resources Commission 9 Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 10 Georgia Environmental Finance Authority 10 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 11 Indiana Finance Authority 11 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 12 Maryland Department of the Environment 12 Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission 12 New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 13 Missouri Department of Natural Resources 13 New York Environmental Facilities Corporation 14 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 14 North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources 15 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection 15 Oklahoma Water Resources Board 16 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 16 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 17 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 17 South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources 18 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 18 Texas Water Development Board 19 Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 19 Washington Department of Ecology 20 Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation 20 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 21 West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection 21 / \ Recognizing Success Nominations for the 2020 PISCES program were based on the following criteria categories. EPA selected one project from each category to be recognized as an Exceptional Project based on the project's overall impact in the category. Innovative Financing: Uses a creative financing mechanism that aligns with the needs of the community. System Partnerships: Creates a partnership that brings together stakeholder groups and resources to create a collaborative approach to addressing water quality needs. Community Engagement: Involves the community during the project design or includes a project element that encourages community engagement. Environmental and Public Health Protection: Employs a sophisticated approach to addressing water quality. These projects may include preemptive treatments, reduction in capacity loading, use of new7 technologies, or other aspects that focus on innovative design. Problem Solving: Uses an unconventional approach in meeting the community's needs. V / Projects Recognized by the George F. Ames PISCES Program - 2020 Exceptional Projects are outlined in orange and Honorable Mention Projects are shaded in blue. ------- 2 Exceptional Honorable Mention Florida Solar Array in Marianna Kansas Cover Crop Interseeding Pilot in Wet more Minnesota Nutrient and Energy Recovery in St. Cloud New Mexico El Valle de Los Ranchos Sewer Collection System Virginia Clinch River Valley Land Conservation Alabama Mobile Master Plan Phase I Alaska Anchorage Wastewater Utility Programmatic Financing Arkansas Decommissioning the West Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant Delaware Wetlands Park in Wilmington Georgia Street Infrastructure Improvements in Cornelia Idaho Weiser Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Indiana Wastewater Collection/Treatment for Romney Sewer District Louisiana Treatment Plant Upgrades in St. Gabriel Maryland Piscataway Bio-Energy Project Michigan Recirculation Plant Upgrades in Wayne County Missouri Blacksnake Creek Stormwater Separation Improvements New Hampshire Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade in Exeter New Jersey CSO Green Infrastructure Elizabeth City New York Tivoli Lake Preserve Stream Daylighting Project North Carolina Hendersonville Streambank Restoration Ohio Sewer Improvements in New Boston Oklahoma Water Meter Replacement in Altus Oregon Sutherlin Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Pennsylvania Temple University Green Roof Rhode Island CSO Green Infrastructure Initiative Narragansett Bay Co. South Carolina Wastewater Pump Station and Lagoon Closure in Lexington South Dakota Nonpoint Source Improvements in Sioux Falls Tennessee Land Application System in Camden Texas Drainage Improvements in Lubbock Vermont Hadley Road Area Infrastructure in South Burlington Washington Liberty Lake Sewer District Reclamation Facility Upgrades West Virginia Wastewater Treatment and Collection System in Bergoo Wisconsin Koshkonong Sanitary District Commission Treatment Upgrades 3 silence in Problem I Solving Florida Department of Environmental Protection City of Marianna Solar Array Electricity for the City of Marianna wastewater plant and spray field constitutes over 23 percent of operational costs, with an expense exceeding $30,000 per month. Marianna is a small rural community with a population less than 6,000 and energy costs place a great deal of pressure on the wastewater rates of its residents. To reduce electrical costs, the City received a $5 million CWSRF loan for the installation of two solar facilities, including all transformers, power distribution lines, site clearing, grading, and fencing in addition to the installation of the solar arrays. The solar power systems were designed to provide nearly all the energy needs for the City's wastewater treatment system through net metering. By reducing the operational cost over 20 percent, it will ensure that wastewater rates are stable and affordable for the future. As a direct result of this project, the electrical costs have been reduced by more than 90 percent. This reduction in costs is especially important since the City was devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Completed approximately one year after the hurricane, this project is greatly assisting the City's residents in their recovery. In addition to a $301,000 state grant for this project, the $5 million CWSRF loan was made at zero percent interest with an extended term of 25 years, and it included $2,711,000 in principal forgiveness. As a result, the City is only responsible for repaying $41,000 annually. Since the savings is approximately $25,000 each month, the debt service can be paid annually from less than two months of savings. This solar project helps the City cover much of their expenses by allowing them to create their own energy. With this new source of energy, plus the affordable financing provided by the CWSRF, this project addresses the problem of affordability in a creative approach, especially for a community rebuilding after experiencing their most devastating hurricane. ------- 4 Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund City of Wetmore Cover Crop Interseeding Pilot Project In 2019, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) forged a partnership between its CWSRF, the Bureau of Watershed Management, Glacial Hills Resource Conservation and Development, and the City of Wetmore to establish a new CWSRF Interseeder Program to promote the use of cover crops to farmers in northeast Kansas. When widely adopted, planting cover crops during the offseason can conserve water resources with less irrigation, reduce excess nutrients that could enter neighboring water bodies, and better protect water qu ality by improving the integrity of the soil profile over time. Producers term benefit of reduced costs for fertilizer and interseeder equipment is used to plant cover crops, though the significant upfront capital costs of purchasing this expensive equipment is the largest barrier to wider adoption in the agricultural community. also experience the long- pesticides. High clearance This project uses a $3.5 million pass-through loan made to the City of Wetmore that will be entirely forgiven. Hie City then provides the funding to its local nonprofit partner, Glacial Hills Resource Conservation and Development, which purchases the interseeding equipment, markets the program, and provides the equipment to agricultural service providers (ASPs) in targeted watersheds. The savings from the forgivable CWSRF allows ASPs to significantly discount the cost of leasing the equipment to farmers, allowing them to try the practice without the large capital investment of purchasing the equipment or leasing the equipment at market prices. The partners anticipate that the interseeder equipment will plant approximately 50,000 acres each year which will result in nutrient load reductions of 97,000 lbs of nitrogen, 48,000 lbs of phosphorus, and 33,000 tons of sediment. This project will empower the agricultural community to adopt and maintain crop covers, which will produce long-term and large-scale improvements in nonpoint source pollution remediation. After the initial project period, the equipment will be available for purchase by the agricultural service providers. Excellence in Innovate Financing Minnesota Public Facilities Authority City of St. Cloud St. Cloud Nutrient & Energy Recovery Project The St. Cloud Nutrient and Energy Recovery Project is a wide-ranging initiative to efficiently capture, manage, and recycle nutrients from wastewater and to generate renewable energy. The St. Cloud facility received a $16.7 million CWSRF loan for the installation of a nutrient recovery reactor, a biogas membrane, a combined heat and power engine-generator, and the conversion of a storage digester to a primary digester. With these new technologies, biosolids will be used to enhance the nutrient recovery process and increase biogas production. This increase in biogas production allows the facility to expand its customer base by accepting additional high strength waste streams which results in a new source of revenue. This is done while spending less on energy needed to purchase from the grid. These innovative technologies decreased the facility's biosolids by 70 percent, reducing staff processing time and hauling costs. The nutrient recovery reactor, the first installed in Minnesota, 7th in the nation, and the 10th worldwide, generates product to be sold as In 2019, the annual the project was over in energy savings, product revenue, and for high-strength Energy production million kilowatts in 2019 and the facility net zero operation by over 100 tons of struvite agricultural fertilizer, financial benefit from $1 million ($587,000 $24,000 in fertilizer $400,000 in revenue \ waste treatment). increased from 3.7 2017 to 5.1 million in is expected to be a 2021, The St. Cloud project community partnerships, a long-term agreement company in which the City the brewery into energy, which generator at the recovery facility. The toward the new engine-generator and will pay also involves unique The City entered into with a local brewing will convert byproducts from will be processed in the engine- brewery contributed $391,000 of capital tipping fees to offset any additional operation and maintenance costs. Through the success of the St. Cloud project, the facility is also partnering with school districts, prisons, counties and healthcare facilities to divert food waste from landfills and instead, convert this waste into energy at the treatment facility. Investing in multiple innovative technologies installed at one site allows the facility to utilize the resources stored in the waste products. The new revenue from fertilizer sales and from processing high strength waste products, in addition to the reduction in the facility's energy expenses, are factors that contribute to keeping rates low for residents and businesses making this project an excellent example of innovative financing. ------- f 1, 1 I \ I j The communities of Ranchos de Taos, Talpa, Llano Quemado, Cordillera, and Los Cordovas have been experiencing rapid growth for years which created the need to regionalize their water treatment services and develop wastewater collection and treatment. The El Valle de Los Ranchos Water and Sanitation District was created in response to this challenge. The District's mission is "to promote and protect now and for future generations the quality of surface and ground water for the health and safety of the residents of the District." In 2004, the District began constructing wastewater collection systems in planned phases using funding from the CWSRF, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state of New Mexico, and from customer payments collected by the District. These ongoing projects replace failing septic systems and leach fields with collection lines and centralized treatment at the Taos Valley Regional Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility. New Mexico Environment Department giS&jK * 3 - El Valle de Los Ranchos Water . _ - . . _ . W. d and Sanitation DistrictJ^^^ Wastewater\Collection Systerrv Since 2012, the District has received three loans from the CWSRF totaling over $4,5 million to install new sewer connections for residents. The latest phase of this project was completed in 2020 and installed 14,000 feet of collection lines that will serve 165 new sewer connections. This new sewer collection system will allow residents to decommission their former septic systems that were discharging sewage into ground water in this water scarce region. The El Valle de Los Ranchos Water and Sanitation District is a prime example of community engagement between multiple small communities and their residents, all working together to regionalize their wastewater services to provide much needed sewer collection and treatment. ¦ ¦ -'T" > W . IT* k..: v sM 7 Environmental and Public Health Virginia Department of Environmental Quality The Nature Conservancy Clinch River Valley Land Conservation . The Clinch River in Southwest Virginia is one of the most biodiverse river systems in North America. The river is also one of the last free-flowing tributaries of the Tennessee River system and provides vital habitat to support 20 federally listed mussel species and over 130 fish species. Hie Nature Conservancy received a $20.1 million CWSRF loan from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to implement the Clinch River Valley Land Conservation project, which will purchase and protect nearly 60,000 acres of land, including 47,000 acres of forest and over 112 miles of headwater streams that flow into the Clinch River. This project will protect drinking water sources, promote sustainable timber harvesting, and is part of a larger forest corridor that will ultimately protect over 254,000 acres of forestland. This stretch of land will provide a migratory path for wildlife that covers several important watersheds in the Appalachian Mountain range. The Clinch River Land Conservation project supported by the CWSRF brings together multiple stakeholders and members of the community to work together for environmental and public health. In addition to protecting water quality in this economically depressed area, this project will improve the local economy by creating jobs in the sustainable forestry industry, expand the outdoor recreation sector, and allow continued access to ecotourism activities such as hunting, hiking, and biking. mr m z Mi s ------- Hie Mobile Board of Water & Sewer Commissioners (MAWSS) will implement Mobile Master Plan that is expected to result in over $140 million in CWSRF funds over five years to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and replace aging equipment throughout the service area. Proposed projects include the replacement of dewatering systems, a new chlorine building, Severe Weather Attenuation Tank (SWAT) storage and conveyance and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) programming for a lift station. To fund the entire Master Plan through the SRF program^ the system is taking a portfolio financing approach and planning to submit additional supplemental applications each fiscal year until the completion of the project list. Proposed improvements are expected to ensure continued compliance with existing regulations and demands and provide increased efficiency and dependability to the Boards overall wastewater collection and treatment system. Alabama Department of Environmental Management Mobile Board of Water arid Sewer Commisioners v i _ ' Mobile Master Plan - Phase I Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Anchorage Wastewater Utility Anchorage ProFi Fiscal Year 2020 The Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU) is the largest utility in Alaska. In April 2020, the Alaska CWSRF issued its first Programmatic Financing (ProFi) loan, which was to AWWU. Rather than provide funding to individual projects through the conventional CWSRF loan process, the Alaska CWSRF offered AWWU a $10 million ProFi loan to fund any portion of eligible projects identified in an established project portfolio. This arrangement provides AWWU the flexibility to request disbursement on any project that has eligible expenses, thus keeping the funding stream active even when projects encounter unanticipated delays. Additionally, it provides the Alaska CWSRF a more realistic expectation of the utility's anticipated rate of loan disbursement which makes funding availability more predictable for other borrowers in the state. Through the ProFi loan, AWWU meets all federal grant conditions and satisfies the CWSRF equivalency requirement. Future ProFi loans will be offered to AWWU on an annual basis, thereby providing a reliable source of funding for their ongoing projects. While this ProFi approach is unconventional for a small CWSRF state program, it meets both the needs of the Alaska CWSRF and the community which make it even easier to access affordable financing for water quality needs. 9 Hie City of West Fork was faced with the familiar challenge of providing affordable and efficient wastewater treatment with an outdated treatment plant that was struggling to meet its permit requirements. After an extensive study, the City determined the best alternative for wastewater treatment was to decommission the existing plant and transport the wastewater to a nearby facility on the east side of Fayetteville. The City went to great lengths to hold numerous town hall meetings and conducted thorough cost-benefit analyses of the available options to ensure resident buy-in and to promote transparency before settling on the solution. The proposed improvement involves construction of 3.3 miles of 15-inch gravity sewer pipe, a pump station, and 4.2 miles of 10-inch force main pipe running through the City of Greenland to Fayetteville's 24-inch gravity sewer line on the south side of Fayetteville. Hiese improvements also allow for gravity flow to the sewer main in the currently unsewered portion of West Fork. By bringing together the residents of West Fork and the City of Fayetteville's wastewater system, this project addresses the water quality needs of both cities and provides an overall environmental benefit for the region. Arkansas Natural Resources Commission City of West Fork West Fork Upgrade Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control City of Wilmington Wetlands Park ------- 10 Before the Wayside Street Infrastructure Improvements, the City of Cornelias sanitary sewer infrastructure was plagued with inflow and infiltration issues that caused sewer leaks. The City's stormwater infrastructure needed additional inlets, and streets had insufficient cross slope and curb height to manage stormwater properly. Additionally, stormwater flowed into neighborhood streets, covering more than half of each lane, which presented safety hazards for pedestrians and motorists. To address these issues, the City leveraged a Community Development Block Grant along with over $2.8 million in CWSRF financing to replace a gravity sewer main and install manholes and service connections to provide a reliable sewerage collection system. Additionally, the project installed a new stormwater collection system, which included the installation of new storm pipes, inlets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and a triple box culvert. The project created a partnership between the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to address water quality needs and the failing sanitary sewer infrastructure. Addressing sewage and stormwater issues helped eliminate health and safety concerns that resulted from sewer leaks and flooding. Additionally, the City will no longer have to contend with frequent breaks and repairs, issues with manhole spacing, or structures that have been placed on top of the sewer main. Lastly, driving hazards that resulted from the excessive water gBKlfcwon the roads will be greatly reduced. Georgia Environmental . Finance Authority City of Cornelia Street Infrastructure Improvements Idaho Department of Environmental Quality City of Weiser Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade The City of Weiser received $6 million in CWSRF financing to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to meet the demand presented by increasing population and more stringent discharge requirements to the local Snake River. The energy efficient upgrades that are part of the project will create energy savings of almost 665,000 kilowatt-hours and $45,000 per year. Cost savings from reduced energy bills will rapidly offset the initial cost difference of the green components. This upgrade project includes biological phosphorus removal by converting an existing aeration tank to anaerobic and anoxic conditions. Other upgrades included installing a new dissolved oxygen control system, replacing aeration blowers, and adding new diffusers. Chemical treatment was also installed for additional phosphorus removal. The CWSRF's Green Project Reserve program offered opportunities to upgrade Weiser's wastewater system that would provide additional energy and cost savings. The opportunities identified and recommended by the project's design team included installing fine-bubble diffusers throughout the plant with automated dissolved oxygen control along with premium energy efficient blowers and pumps equipped with variable frequency drives to ensure the equipment operates at optimum speeds. These upgrades not only save the facility energy and operating costs, but also increase the qualtiy of treatment for the plant while raising the treatment capacity needed for the growing community. 11 In 2004, an estimated 75 percent of the homes in Romney, Indiana, were discharging sewage to local ditches and streams in the We a Creek watershed. These failing septic systems negatively impacted the local public health and environment of the area, prompting residents to advocate for change. After exploring regionalization alternatives and weighing the financial challenges, citizens worked with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to form the Romney Regional Sewer District. Local leaders contacted Indiana's State Revolving Fund and United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development (RD) programs to seek innovative low-cost solutions to correct the small community's wastewater management problem. After extensive review, they decided to construct a wastewater collection and treatment system that connects 135 residents and 12 commercial entities to the system. Hie plant includes ultraviolet disinfection, phosphorous removal, and an emergency generator, and it will significantly reduce the amount of pollution entering local waters. Indiana's CWSRF provided the Romney District with a $2 million forgivable Bond Anticipation Note, and RD offered the community a grant of $1.6 million paired with a low-interest RD loan of $1.1 million. This project received a total funding amount of $4.8 million, 76 percent of which came in the form of grants or forgivable loans. This creative financing solution allowed the new district to address the environmental issues surrounding their community using an affordable solution. indiana Finance Authority Romney Regional Sewer District Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project that It to sav consti to car the M ^ > Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality City of St. Gabriel Carville and Delta Project ------- 12 THERMAL HYDROLYSIS ^ PROCESS (THP) POST-THP BIOSOLIDS STORAG ODOR CONTROL This project will create a centralized sludge processing and bio-energy cogeneration facility that will receive sludge generated from all five of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Water (WSSC Water) s treatment plants serving Montgomery and Prince Georges County. This $271 million project received over $128 million in financing from CWSRF loans with interest rates below 1 percent. This competitive financing allows WSSC Water to minimize borrowing costs and the financial impact on utility ratepayers. Through the partnership between the State of Maryland, EPA, and WSSC Water, this innovative project will reduce utility operating costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient inputs to the Chesapeake Bay. Previous processing facilities only produced Class B biosolids. This new centralized upgrade will provide anaerobic digestion equipment and facilities to provide Class A biosolids which can be used for clean energy and marketed for use as fertilizer. Wastewater treatment, energy, and sludge disposal costs incurred by the utility will also be reduced by decreasing the demand to dispose biosolids at a landfill and through generating clean energy on-site. Through reducing inefficient energy consumption and the generation of clean energy, this project will reduce overall WSSC Water Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 15 percent USm and provide sustainable economic development by creating green jobs. Maryland Department of the Environment Piscataway Bio-Energy Project Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Milk River Intercounty Drainage District CSO RTBI Recirculation Plant Upgrades Originally built in 1958, the Milk River combined sewer overflow retention treatment basin (RTB) and recirculation system required significant renovations. The facilities border residential properties along the Milk River Drain where residents use the waterway for recreational activities, such as kayaking and fishing. The Milk River Drain, which is located closer to lake St. Clair, is also used as a marina for boaters during the summer months. In 2014, the Milk River facilities agreed to work with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to improve the effluent water quality, record keeping, and maintenance of the facilities. Enhancements to the recirculation facility include expansion of the building for zebra and quagga mussel control, upgrading valves and actuators, and repairing a force main under the Milk River Drain channel. The Milk River Pump Station and CSO RTB facility will receive upgraded flushing systems, storm pumps, disinfection and sampling system upgrades, and an overhaul of the buildings' electrical, light, heating, and venting systems. As a result of this project, the Milk River facilities can continue to adequately treat the effluent entering the waterway, meet the identified National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limits, and maintain water quality in the Milk River Drain to the benefit of residents and the environment. Final completion of the comprehensive upgrades is scheduled for 2021. 13 The City of St. Joseph uses a combined sewer system to collect sewage and flows from the Blacksnake Creek. The combined sewage then is sent to the City's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for treatment. During large storm events, flows in this combined system may exceed capacity at the WWTP and be discharged directly into the Missouri River. To eliminate approximately 303,000 gallons per year of combined sewer overflows, the City received a CWSRF loan for over $67 million to construct a separate storm sewer tunnel. This tunnel will redirect two million gallons per day of creek base flow away from the city's WWTP and direct it to the Missouri River. This tunnel was constructed using a custom-built boring machine that excavated through bedrock while simultaneously installing a segmented concrete lining. This project also repaired the existing creek's combined sewer and outfall, constructed five stormwater bioretention basins, and replaced approximately 1,100 trees along the conveyance corridor that were removed during construction. Elimination of combined overflows will greatly benefit the water quality in the Missouri River and will reduce flows to the WTWTTP. That will increase the facility's hydraulic capacity approximately 11 percent and reduce annual plant operation and maintenance costs by $1.5 million. Additional savings from using CWSRF financing will save the community an estimated $29 million in interest when compared with conventional financing. Missouri Department of Natural Resources City of St. Joseph Blacksnake Creek Stormwater Seperation Improvements Th miilio Dmprehi lant (W eatmen ew slud; ardenpl receivec s topei^. ~ their wastewater t realm :t replaced an aerated la ded the construction of nt plant that utilizes a f< ;ss to biologically remo< is beean in lune of 2019 New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Town of Exeter Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade ------- 14 The City of Elizabeth has a combined sewer system that was becoming overwhelmed from excessive rain events that occasionally resulted in stormwater and sewage flowing into areas of the community. As a result, the City received a $6.25 million loan from the New Jersey Water Bank, with $1.67 million in principal forgiveness, to implement a green infrastructure project designed to reduce flooding and increase CSO abatement for the community. The City installed additional inlets on streets that allowed the existing drainage system to function during smaller storms and diverted any excess stormwater into a 1-million- gallon concrete vault. This structure was wrapped in an impermeable pond lmer beneath a property acquired for this project and equipped with a pump station that is activated by sensors after wet weather events. When triggered, discharge is transported from the tank to the sewer system when there is sufficient capacity for treatment. In addition, the City utilized a combination of green and gray infrastructure by constructing a rain garden and a public plaza for the City residents. Thanks to the strategic financing olfered by the NJ Water Bank the City provided a unique approach to CSO abatement while engaging the public in collaborative discussions about the project. In doing so, the quality of life for its residents improved simultaneously with environmental and human Jiealth conditions. New Jersey Department of \ nvironmental Protection Street CSO Green Infrastructure Project New York Environmental Facilities Corporation Albany Water Board Tivoli Lake Preserve Stream Daylighting The City of Albany completed a unique $3.5 million project in January 2020 where a substantial portion of Patroon Creek in the Tivoli Lake Preserve was restored through the process of daylighting. This process involved removing a piped section of the Creek that was previously undersized and created a stream corridor in its place. The new stream will enable the Creek, which flows into the Hudson River, to better handle large storms and provide additional downstream flood protection, mitigate erosion, and stabilize critical infrastructure within the preserve. Additionally, the project is in an Environmental Justice Area that runs through a park serving under-privileged neighborhoods and will provide an opportunity to connect the residents with the Creek. This project combined a $1.1 million Green Innovation Grant Program grant, with a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation grant to leverage funding from the City and the Albany Water Board. By working with these funding partners and the community to design a process that maximizes both environmental and social benefits, the Stream Daylighting Project was able to alleviate multiple issues and created a new environmental attraction for residents to enjoy at the Tivoli Lake Preserve 15 The City of Hendersonville received a $2.98 million CWSRF Green Reserve loan at zero percent interest for the Multiarea Streambanlc Restoration project. The project will restore 13 sections of urban streams, along with their associated vegetative buffers, to promote stormwater quality and improve the quality of Mud Creek, an impaired water body. Approximately 11,000 linear feet of urban streambanks will be restored, 1,000 linear feet of sewer line that is threatened by streambanlc erosion will be rehabilitated, and a stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) with educational features will be installed in the City's Patton Park which is adjacent to a tributary of Mud Creek. The stormwater BMP in Patton Park will consist of modifying an existing stormwater pond that has become turbid and turn it into a wetland. The proposed wetland will not only improve the overall quality of Mud Creek but will also be used as a public outreach and educational opportunity for the City. North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources City of Hendersonville Multi-Area Streambank Restoration While designing a new campus library, Temple University determined that traditional impervious ^ roofing would contribute to runoff, exacerbating combined sewer overflows in the City of Philadelphia. The University received a $6.7 million CWSRF loan to install a green roof to reduce urban runoff both on its campus and in north central Philadelphia. The green roof and drainage include two infiltration basins, 25,000-gallon rainwater harvesting cisterns, absorbing Silva Cells, area landscaping, stormwater piping, trench drains, storm manholes, yard drains, overflow drains, green roof assembly, and green roof landscaping combined with porous paving. The University also planted native flowering plants on the green roof to help support local pollinator populations and to create a green space for local fauna within the urban landscape Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Temple University Green Roof Project ------- 16 In the small village of New Boston, storms could trigger overflows at an existing combined sewer system causing untreated sewage to discharge into the local streets, streams, and the Ohio River. With a population of around 2,225 and a median household income of $16,691, the Village faced a difficult challenge in addressing this longstanding health and environmental issue. New Boston partnered with the City of Portsmouth, U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA, and the Ohio SRF as they sought appropriate solutions to CSO problem. Hie result was a seven-phase project that inflow and infiltration source removal and the construction of new main line storm sewers and sanitary express sewers. The new systems were designed to send local sanitary sewage to the City of Portsmouth for treatment and divert the streams and the Ohio River. Working with the CWSRF program, the Village was able to complete the final phase of the project and cover two-thirds of Ohio Environmental the cost through principal forgiveness, with the remaining n i l' A/v amount being covered by zero percent CWSRF loans. New ' ' 0 tCiUOI 1 MgcllCy Bostons upgrades to their CSO infrastructure helped N0W BOStOfl them meet their clean water obligations and support a cleaner Ohio River. Sewer Improvements - Phase 7 CSO Oklahoma Water Resources Board Altus Municipal Authority Electric and Water Meter Replacement and As a strong proponent of careful water resource management, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board provides CWSRF funds for water infrastructure projects that incorporate water efficient designs. Using the CWSRF, the City of Altus undertook an $11 million improvement project to the City's wastewater treatment plant, with $5 million used to replace outdated water meters throughout the City. Approximately 10,000 water and electric meters were replaced with modern Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which will help residents better assess the amount of water they use. Prior to the installation of the AMI, the City issued a campaign to inform the general public on the upcoming activity, explain the new billing statement design, and introduce the upcoming utility App called Altus Smart Hub. Altus Smart Hub went live in April of 2020 and allows residents to monitor their usage in near real-time intervals and view water reports, helping residents learn ways to better conserve water. The City's investment in AMI is one example of how communities across Oklahoma are deploying innovative technologies to better manage the State's water resources. 17 To meet new discharge permit requirements and protect the water quality of Calapooya Creek, the City of Sutherlin invested in an ambitious multi-stage project with the help of Oregon's CWSRF and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The City used DEQ's 30-year bond purchase option to fund the construction of a new activated- sludge treatment plant, significant upgrades to the City's existing wastewater treatment plant, and a land purchase encompassing a 90-acre pond for effluent storage. Hie new plant will feature UV disinfection, tertiary filtration, and a solids-handling facility. Upgrades to the current plant will allow treated recycled water to be pumped to multiple recipients, including a pasture, an olive farm, and a golf course. The multi-prong approach of this project allowed the City of Sutherlin to address a wide range of requirements with minimal impact on ratepayers. In addition to improving its capacity and flexibility to treat wastewater, the City designated a former storage pond, known as Ford's Pond, as a park and partnered with a local community group to create recreational opportunities. The overall result will be more sustainable water use and the creation of a new nature reserve and community space. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality City of Sutherlin New Wastewater Treatment Plant Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Narragansett Bay Commission CSO Phase 3A Green Infrastructure Iniative ------- 18 popular recreation area for boaters, fishers, and swimmers, has suffered from poor water quality - including high levels of E. coli bacteria. One of the sources of contamination was an outfall for a privately owned wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) that had a history of poor performance. The Town of Lexington purchased the facility and ceased its discharges to the Lower Saluda River in 2018. To address the public and environmental health issue, the Town used a $3.4 million CWSRF loan to build the connection infrastructure and pump station necessary to reroute the wastewater from the old facility to a collection system owned by the Town for treatment at a regional WWTF. This project also closed two aeration lagoons that had been an odor nuisance for nearby residents. Closing the small WWTF was in line with the areas 208 Water Quality Management Plan, which calls for the regionalization of wastewater services and aims to eliminate all domestic wastewater discharges to the Lower Saluda River. South Carolina Department of ealth and Environmental Control Town of Lexington 1-20 Wasterwater System Pump Station & Lagoon Closure South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources City of Sioux Falls Nonpoint Source Improvements - Skunk Creek The Big Sioux River serves as a drinking water source for the residents of Sioux Falls and is listed as an impaired water body The City of Sioux Falls, utilizing South Dakota CWSRF's incentive loan rates for nonpoint source (NFS) projects, funded various NPS projects in the Big Sioux River watershed. Over $3.3 million in CWSRF loans were made using incentive interest rates for NPS best management practices for Skunk Creek, a former impaired tributary of the Big Sioux River. Using these funds, the community worked to restore the Creek and applied a Seasonal Riparian Area Management (SRAM) practice to support landowners within the 100-year floodplain of the Creek. Landowners found this SRAM practice an attractive option for using land on the river corridor because protected the land from livestock grazing during the recreation season. This program paid livestock producers to defer grazing or maintain a minimum vegetation stand in the river corridor during the growing season. Over 1,200 acres of riparian area along Skunk Creek have been entered into this SRAM practice to date, which has led to a decrease in total suspended solids in the Creek and, in turn, allowed the Creek to be removed from the States impaired list. 19 The City of Camden's wastewater treatment facility consists of a 0.5 million gallons per day lagoon treatment system and a wastewater collection system. Before making upgrades, the facility did not meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limits for discharges to Cypress Creek. The City received a $9 million CWSRF loan to make improvements to the wastewater treatment system and installed a land application site for additional disposal of treated wastewater effluent. The City now has two wastewater discharge options: to discharge to the Creek or land apply the treated effluent on approximately 340 acres of land. The land application system helps the community protect the Kentucky Lake and Tennessee River watershed by eliminating excess nutrient loading and biological oxygen demand levels from Cypress Creek. The City benefits from having treatment options to maintain environmental compliance and protect the fragile ecosystems in streams and rivers. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation City of Camden WWTP Improvements - Land Application System The increased intensity of rainfall events has presented challenges to the City of Lubbock's wastewater infrastructure. The areas along Quaker Avenue in the northwest portions of the City have historically been prone to flooding, affecting residential and commercial structures and a major medical district. A flooding event in 2015 made roads inaccessible, which highlighted the public health threat posed by flooding as ambulances were forced to find alternate routes to medical facilities. To address this issue, the City went to the CWSRF to finance the installation of lateral trunk lines and inlets to divert stormwater into shallow wetlands known as "playa lakes" in the Texas High Plains. By taking advantage of low-interest financing through the Texas CWSRF, the City saved its ratepayers nearly $7 million compared to having financed through the open marl Texas Water Development Board City of Lubbock Northwest Drainage Improvements ------- 20 With financial assistance from triif the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the City of South Burlington and the Champlain Water District co-funded a multi-faceted project that included wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water improvements. The project disconnected a portion of the City's service area from the collection system and installed a new pump station and force main, which will divert stormwater away from one of the City's combined sewer overflows. By removing stormwater flows from the wastewater collection, only wastewater is sent to the treatment facility which, in turn, lowers pumping and treatment expenses and keeps user rates affordable for residents. Each municipality achieved substantial savings by gaining community support for a joint CWSRF loan for $3.3 million and DWSRF loan for $785,000. The project also built a new gravel wetland and paid for it using a new state program in the CWSRF known as the Green Stormwater Initiative (GSI). The GSI provides a loan forgiveness incentive for municipalities who incorporate GSI into their wastewater projects. In this instance, the City received a separate loan for $298,000, all of which was forgiven, to put towards the total cost of the project. Additionally, the City entered into an inter- municipal agreement with the Champlain Water District to include the water transmission upgrades into a wastewater improvements contract and financed this portion of the contract with a Drinking Water SRF loan. Lastly, the State provided approximately $700,000 in the form of a pollution control grant to the City for the wastewater improvements under the State's CSO abatement funding program. 1 Environmental Conservation City of South Burlington 1 Hadiey Road Area Infrastructure Liberty Lake Sewer District Water Reclamation Facility Upgrades . , ( . - The Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force is a voluntary Washington Department Of Ecology group of business; Tribes; conservation groups; and state, local and federal government agencies who collaborate to reduce harmful compounds from entering the Spokane River, which is listed as impaired. The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District (LLSWD), a member of this Task Force, operates drinking water and wastewater utilities for the community's growing population. As part of their work within the Task Force, LLSWD adopted a Toxics Management Plan to reduce Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in their wastewater effluent. LLSWD received assistance from the CWSRF to fund over $16 million in upgrades for its Water Reclamation Facility to meet requirements under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, Total Maximum Daily Load limits, and Toxics Management Plan. This project builds on existing treatment processes and includes improved headworks screening, a tertiary membrane filtration system, upgrades to the UV disinfection system, and an expanded Laboratory and Operations Center. The Operations Center includes an education center that offers tours and learning opportunities to school and community groups. The upgrades to the facility have significantly improved effluent quality by reducing phosphorus levels and by removing 98 percent of the PCBs that enter the system. These system improvements by LLSWD can be considered an integral part of the ongoing regional strategy for protecting the Spokane River. Liberty Lake Sewer and Water Du Water Reclamation Plant Owner: Liberty Lake Sewer and Water Distnc, Address: 1926 North Harvard Boad, Liberty Lake WA 990'9 oonna Corporation T BV «sft""" 21 The Webster Springs Public Service District received over $2.8 million from the CWSRF to construct a public wastewater collection system and a new decentralized wastewater treatment plant to serve approximately 61 customers. Prior to receiving CWSRF assistance, the community of Bergoo used a rudimentary wastewater collection system, septic tanks, and direct discharges into Leatherwood Creek and the Elk River. These approaches were impairing the Creek and affecting the drinking water, as well as the surface water, in the area. This project will reduce the fecal matter in the stream by eliminating direct discharges and failing septic systems. Since water in the area is provided through private wells that are influenced by surface water, this project will also significantly improve drinking water quality for the community. Through the structure of the CWSRF s partnership with the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, this decentralized project was financed through 100 percent principal forgiveness and grants. As a result, a small rural community that would not otherwise been able to afford the system upgrade can better protect their drinking water sources and outdoor recreation areas. Vitti population growth and existing Lty deficiencies in mind, members of isolidated Koshkonong Sanitary District ssion devised a creative financing solution to fund ction on their main pump station and treatment . With an expected completion date of Febru ary 2021, ion of synthetic liners and other lagoon upgrad es will »the management of seepage rates and ground water on. Upgrades will also address new ammonia and Drus limits established in the District's Wisconsin it Discharge Elimination System Permit. These iments will allow the District to meet future permit nents and provide the staff flexibility to adapt to daily mal conditions. tig for the project was provided through six individual ;nts to the sanitary districts that comprise the Commi; r smallest of the six sanitary districts qualified for d forgiveness, allowing the Commission to spread the 1 burden and make the protect more affordable for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Community of Bergoo Wastewater Treatment & Collection System Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Consolidated Koshkonog Sanitary District Commission Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade ------- *% For more information about the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, please contact us at: United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Wastewater Management Clean Water State Revolving Fund Branch 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (4204M) Washington, D.C. 20460 www.epa.gov/ cwsrf Office of Water January 2021 EPA Publication: 816R21002 S-' V-i c ------- |