2021

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure:
Grants to Territories and D.C.


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Construction Grants Program Report

EPA Headquarters

Catherine Allen

Sustainable Communities and Infrastructure Branch Chief

Eric M. Governo

Attorney-Adviser

Alma I. Hidalgo

Program Analyst

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW)

Nick Chamberlain

Environmental Protection Specialist

Jorge Medrano

Environmental Engineer

Region 2 (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Jaime Geliga

Manager

Yasmin T. Laguer-Di'az

Lead Physical Scientist

Pedro Modesto

Environmental Engineer

Clean Water and Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund Construction Grants
Programs for the District of Columbia
and U.S. Territories

EPA's Construction Grants Program supports the
agency's mission to protect human health and
the environment by providing communities in the
District of Columbia and four U.S. territories with
necessary infrastructure to meet the standards
established in the Clean Water Act (CWA) and
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Region 3 (District of Columbia)

Jeffrey M. Boylan, Chief

Infrastructure & Assistance Section (3WD32)
State Assistance & Partnerships Branch

Edward Hopkins

Environmental Protection Specialist

Kenneth Pantuck

Environmental Scientist

Region 9 (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianna
Islands (CNMI)



Doug Eberhardt

Manager



David Isaiah Larsen

Environmental Engineer



Hallie McManus

Environmental Engineer



Thomas Konner

Environmental Engineer



2


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Construction Grants Program Report

Table of Contents

Introduction	4

Fiscal Year Allocations	5

U.S. Virgin Islands	6

District of Columbia	7

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands	9

American Samoa	10

Guam	11

3


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Introduction

EPA allots a portion of the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and Clean
Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) as grants
to Washington D.C., and the U.S. territories of the
U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Guam, America Samoa,
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI) for drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure.

When the State Revolving Fund loan programs were
established, D.C. and the U.S. territories elected to
continue to receive their water infrastructure funds as
grants, as opposed to loans. The grants have similar
eligibilities to the SRF assistance.

The grant program allows the U.S. territories and D.C. to
improve compliance with the SDWA and CWA, provide safe
drinking water, and protect the environment.

This FY 2021 report includes examples of the work
performed using DWSRF and CWSRF funding from each of
the U.S. territories and D.C.

EPA Region 2 (USVI), Region 3 (D.C.), and Region 9 (Guam,
American Samoa, CNMI) award and manage these grants.

4 | Construction Grants Program Report


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Construction Grants Program Report

Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

2018-2021 Allocations

$50,000,
$45,000,
$40,000,
$35,000,
$30,000,
$25,000,
$20,000,
$15,000,
$10,000,
$5,000,

000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000

1111

pu

CWSRF DWSRF
American Samoa

CWSRF DWSRF
CNMI

CWSRF DWSRF
DC

CWSRF DWSRF
Guam

CWSRF DWSRF
USVI

¦ 2021

$8,701,000

$4,144,000

$4,044,000

$3,244,000

$7,879,000

$11,001,00

$6,296,000

$3,852,000

$5,050,000

$5,261,000

¦ 2020

$8,601,000

$4,148,000

$3,944,000

$3,247,000

$7,780,000

$11,011,00

$6,196,000

$3,856,000

$4,950,000

$5,265,000

¦ 2019

$8,601,000

$4,145,000

$3,944,000

$3,245,000

$7,779,000

$11,004,00

$6,196,000

$3,853,000

$4,950,000

$5,262,000

¦ 2018

$8,688,000

$4,184,000

$3,984,000

$3,275,000

$7,859,000

$11,107,00

$6,259,000

$3,890,000

$5,001,000

$5,312,000

EPA supports public health and environmental
protection in D.C. and the U.S. territories
by helping communities develop and maintain
their water infrastructure through funding, tools,
training, and technical assistance.

Over the past four years, the CWSRF and DWSRF
program has provided over $237 million to fund
wastewater and drinking water projects, as well as
watershed-based programs meant to improve the
quality of D.C. and U.S. territories' water systems.

Clean Water

State Revolving Fund

From FY 2018 through 2021, D.C. and the U.S. territories
received the following percentages of the total CWSRF
and DWSRF allotment:

CWSRF

American Samoa: 0.5418%
Guam: 0.3920%

USVI: 0.3144%

CNMI: 0.2518%

DWSRF

American Samoa: 0.3767%

Guam: 0.3502%

USVI: 0.4782%

CNMI: 0.2949%

The District of Columbia receives funding equal to
0.4984% of the total remaining CWSRF and 1.0% of
the total remaining DWSRF annual allotment, after
allotments made for the tribes, U.S. territories, and
American Iron and Steel oversight.


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The Industrial Equipment Corporation (INECO) began
upgrading the Figtree Pump Station in St. Croix in
September 2015.

The pump station upgrades introduced a wide variety
of technologies and best practices for pump stations
by replacing the floor gratings and plates with
aluminum and installing a safety line in the wet well.
The safety line allows for anyone wearing a harness to
tie-off that helps with safety and fall prevention.

In addition, a sluice gate was installed to allow the inlet
to flow into the wet well from the collector manhole.
The gate can be closed electronically or manually from
the pump station's main floor. This is a significant
safety feature that prevents exposure to wastewater
when the well-inlet flow is being isolated.

Finally, the surge tank pressure gauge was relocated to
ground level. Initially, the pressure gauge was located
on the top of the surge drum, and the operators would
have to climb on the roof of the pump station on a daily
basis to read the surge tank pressure.

The following items were also installed as part of the
project:

•	Vapor tight aluminum wet well access hatch with
removable handrails

•	Force main surge tank and flow meter

•	Soft starters (replaced house pumps and variable
frequency drives)

•	Generator fuel tank and pipeline

•	Mechanical bar screen cleaner

Figtree Pumpstation New Sluice Gate

6 | Construction Grants Program Report


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Bioretention Bulbouts at Intersection of 53rd and Dix Streets NE

This District Department of Transportation (DDOT) project
retrofitted three blocks of Dix Street NE in the Deanwood
neighborhood with 12 green infrastructure best management
practices: bioretention areas in curb bulbouts, trees, and
permeable pavers. Dix Street NE is an urban, residential street
that parallels the south bank of Watts Branch, D.C.'s largest non-
tidal tributary to the Anacostia River and D.C.'s priority stream in
a disadvantaged community

The District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)
sponsored community-driven conceptual plans in 2011 to
manage the area's stormwater pollution. Based on those plans,
DDOT subsequently applied for an Construction Grants award to
design and construct the project. Formal design work began in
2016 and included extensive, additional community outreach in
the design component. The designs accommodated community
priorities of enhanced livability through features such as curb
bioretention bulbouts that narrowed the street and promoted
reduced motorist speeds and a permeable paver transition to the
streamside trail.

Construction was completed below the project's $1.75 million
budget, so DDOT removed additional impervious surface from
the stream's north bank with the remaining $340,000. Additional

features include conversion of two stub streets into a permeable
lane and a landscaped area with a pedestrian path, replacing
jersey barriers at a T-intersection with a bioretention basin, 10
pervious sidewalk tree boxes and 28 additional trees.

In total, the project resulted in managing approximately 74,000
gallons of stormwater from a 116,000 square foot contributing
drainage area during a 1.2" storm event, removed nearly 13,000
square feet of impervious surface, and added 38 new trees to
the urban neighborhood's canopy. All work was completed by
December 2019.

Bioretention Basin and New Tree Plantings at Deane and Division
Avenues NE, Formerly a Stub Street with Jersey Barriers

Construction Grants Program Report | 7


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District of Columbia: RiverSmart
Schools Retrofits

Friendship Public Charter School-Woodridge: Bioretentiori

The District's Department of Energy and Environment
(DOEE) RiverSmart Schools program used
Construction Grants funds to retrofit 15 public and
charter schoolyards to date.

Schoolyards present some of best opportunities to
employ low impact development techniques in urban
environments due to their large impervious surface
areas and community benefits.

Green infrastructure (Gl), such as bioswales,
bioretention basins, butterfly gardens, rainwater storage
cisterns, and outdoor classrooms, enhances the
learning environment, stimulates ecological lessons,
and promotes community pride.

Schools are annually chosen for retrofits on a
competitive basis and coordinate with DOEE's
contractor throughout the project. In 2019, the District's
Construction Grants program funded RiverSmart
Schools retrofits at Bunker Hill Elementary, Center
City Public Charter: Capitol Hill, and Friendship Public
Charter School-Woodridge.

In total, the project resulted in these three urban school
sites retaining and treating approximately 27,900 gallons
of stormwater from a 1.2" rainfall event from a contributing
drainage area of about 65,000 square feet through Gl that
includes 3 outdoor classrooms, 15 trees, 3 bioretention
areas, a bioswale, a rainwater cistern, planter boxes, and
numerous other vegetation,

Bunker Hill Elementary School: Bioretention Basin and
Outdoor Classroom

8 | Construction Grants Program Report


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Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianna Islands: Renovation Projects

NMC Old (left) and New Water Tank (right), As Lito, Distribution Upgrades/Service Lateral Replacement Project

CNMI is a 300-mile archipelago consisting of 14
islands, with a total land area of 183.5 square miles.
The principal inhabited islands are Saipan, Rota, and
Tinian.

These islands are a host to an expanding tourist market
with associated increases in the construction and garment
manufacturing industries. This has resulted in a large
migrant labor population, now outnumbering native island
residents. From 1980-1997, CNMI's population increased
from 16,780 to 63,000.

The development boom has increased land prices and
caused rapid inflation. It also led to the construction
of many hotels, resorts, apartments, golf courses, and
commercial establishments. Such tremendous growth
has strained the ability of the local government to provide
adequate infrastructure.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) provides
CNMI with power, water, and sewer services. While it has
made progress to meet the growing demand, it is still
struggling to ensure its drinking water and waste treatment
systems meet EPA and local standards. Over the past two
years, CUC has continued to work tirelessly to address
these water infrastructure challenges facing the region.

On May 30,2018, CUC completed the NMC Water Tank
Replacement Project. The project improved water supply
and increased water pressure in the service area. The
work replaced the old steel water storage tank with a new
pre-stressed concrete water storage chamber. Also, the
project included a chlorination system, a booster pump
station, and a flow meter to better track water flow and
pressure in the system.

The same year, CUC finished As Lito, Saipan, Distribution
Upgrades, and Service Lateral Replacement Projects. The
projects replaced old distribution and service laterals to
address water pressure, supply, and water loss. Drinking
water loss is a significant issue for CUC's drinking water
system. EPA is working with CUC to address non-revenue
water.

In December 2019, CUC finished the S6 and S10 Lift
Station Renovations Project. The Commonwealth Utilities
Corporation S6 and S10 Lift Station Renovations were
necessary to address aging lift stations and ensure the
prevention of sewage spills to waters of the U.S. The
project completely renovated the lift stations' wet wells,
pumps, motors, and piping.

EPA will continue to work with CUC to improve other lift
stations in need of renovations.

Construction Grants Program Report | 9


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American Samoa: Replacement and
Improvement Projects

Upper Pago Water Improvement Project (left) and Upper Amouli Water Storage Tank Project (right)

American Samoa became a U.S. territory by deed of
cession in 1900. The tuna canning industry is a major
employer. The per capita income of American Samoa is only
$8,000, by far the lowest in the United States. American
Samoa faces significant environmental and public health
challenges including inadequate indoor plumbing and water
pollution due to heavy metals in portions of Pago Pago
Harbor. American Samoa continues to make progress in
addressing these challenges.

In 2019, American Samoa replaced the Upper Amouli Water
Storage Tank. The existing Upper Amouli Water Storage
Tank deteriorated due to the extreme climatic conditions at
this location. The tank was non-repairable and necessitated
replacement. The old tank was leaking and could cause
catastrophic property damage if it failed. American Samoa
Power Authority (ASPA) had the old tank filled to only one-
third capacity to minimize the possibility of failure. This
requires the booster pump to run continuously to meet the
demand in this area, driving electricity costs higher.

This project included the design and installation of a
320,000 gallon bolted steel tank to replace the existing
deteriorated tank and the installation of a perimeter fence,
and improvements to the existing access road to the
tank. This is a critical Water Storage Tank (WST) in the
eastern section of the island as this project ensures the
sustainability of the water distribution system and provides
water to underserved areas on the east side of the island
of Tutuila. The new Upper Amouli water storage tank will
eliminate the likelihood of a catastrophic event.

That same year, ASPA completed the Upper Pago Water
Improvement Project. ASPA water supply was limited to the
geographic area to the northeast of the water treatment plant.
A six-inch diameter pipeline was constructed in 2004 to convey
water to Fagasa Pass to the southwest and serve the population
of Vaipito (Upper Pago Pago) by gravity. However, the Vaipito
water treatment plant was deactivated and there was an
inadequate supply of water for the pipeline. Two new wells were
drilled to serve this sub-system consisting of 472 existing service
connections and over 160 unserved houses.

The project consisted of installing a new bolted steel water
storage tank at the Fagasa Pass, a pumping station and facilities
to pump water up to the Pago Pass, a pipeline distribution system
to the Fagasa side, and a transmission line to fill the tank.

Storage Tank: A new 100,000-gallon bolted steel tank was
installed at the Pass and will be used as an operational storage for
this sub-system.

Pumping Station: The pumping station pumps 100 gallons per
minute of water over 260 feet elevation from the wellhead up to
the Storage Tank at the Pago Pass. This construction included
electrical, telemetry, and SCADA works.

Pipeline Distribution System: A new pipeline was installed from
the pumping station to the storage tank and to the Fagasa system
with pressure reducing valves and other required appurtenances
along with additional pipeline to connect to the existing system.

10 | Construction Grants Program Report


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D-Series Guam Deep Water (DW) Well Rehabilitation Ribbon Cutting

Deep Water Wei! Rehabilitation Project:
Guam

Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA)
owns and maintains a potable water
system that serves 41,000 connections
on Guam. Most of the resources come
from 120 deep wells tapping the sole
source Northern Guam Lens Aquifer.

The D-Series project was proposed to
EPA to address existing water supply
deficiencies due to failing wells by
rehabilitating five out-of-service deep
water wells.

The design/build project included
hydrogeologic investigations to
determine the viability of each well's
rehabilitation. All five wells received the
go ahead and received a full renovation.
The project was initiated on August 19,
2016 and completed on September 20,
2019 at a cost of $7.28 million.

The Rt. 4 Sewer Rehab - CIPP Phase
Project: Guam

GWA owns and maintains a wastewater
collection and treatment system
consisting of 315 miles of gravity
sewers, 74 sewer pumps stations, and 6
wastewater treatment facilities.

In 2014, the Rt. 4 sewer line was at full
capacity and experiencing frequent
sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). GWA
proposed a project to upgrade the line to
EPA that year. The purpose of the project
was to rehabilitate and replace, as needed,
an old, out-of-service line running parallel
to Rt. 4 and thereby increase capacity and
reduce SSOs.

The project was divided into two separate
contracts to accommodate the need
for two separate technical disciplines -
Cure in Place Pipe (CIPP) sewer line and
manhole replacement. The CIPP contract,
which lined the parallel line, was inititated
on August 29,2018 and completed in June
of 2020 at the cost of $4 million.

Installing CIPP Liner for Rt. 4
Sewer Rehab on Guam

Construction Grants Program Report 111


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vvEPA

Office of Wastewater Management and Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
December 2021
EPA-832-R21-003


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