The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program accelerates investment in our nation's water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects. WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BORROWER: City of Philadelphia LOCATION: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WIFIA LOAN AMOUNT: $19.8 million TOTAL WIFIA PROJECT COSTS: $40.4 million POPULATION SERVED BY PROJECT: 1.6 million people NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED: 129 jobs PROJECT DESCRIPTION The City of Philadelphia's Water System Improvements Project will replace lead service line connections and watermains throughout the city to protect public health and help maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. Portions of the City of Philadelphia's drinking water systems are approaching the end of their useful life and need significant upgrades to continue to deliver clean and safe water to the residents of Philadelphia. With this WIFIA loan, the City of Philadelphia will replace approximately 160 lead service lines and 15 miles of distribution mains which will protect public health and prevent approximately seven watermain breaks per year. These projects will be completed throughout the city, including in areas with environmental justice concerns. Replacing lead service lines will help the City remain in compliance with anticipated revisions to the Lead and Copper rule. This is the first loan under a master agreement that will commit over $340 million in WIFIA financial assistance to the City of Philadelphia to implement its Water Systems Improvement Project. PROJECT BENEFITS • Protects public health and drinking water quality throughout the city, including in areas with environmental justice concerns. • Modernizes aging infrastructure to provide safer and more reliable distribution systems. • Saves the City of Philadelphia approximately $4 million by financing with a WIFIA loan. WIFIA PROGRAM Source: Philadelphia Water Department £% United States Environmental Protection kl m % Agency WEBSITE: www.epa.gov/wifia EMAIL: wifia@EPA.gov ------- |