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. WATERSHED CONNECT YUCAIPA LOAN 1 BORROWER: Yucaipa Valley Water District LOCATION: City of Yucaipa and City of Calimesa, California WIFIA LOAN AMOUNT: $81 million TOTAL WIFIA PROJECT COSTS: $166 million POPULATION SERVED BY PROJECT: 65,600 people NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED: 532 jobs PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Upper Santa Ana River Watershed Infrastructure Financing Authority's Watershed Connect project is a regional solution that will diversify the region's water supply portfolio, recharge the groundwater basins, restore critical habitat, and secure a sustainable water future in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California. This WIFIA loan will support Yucaipa Valley Water District's modernization of its recycled water facility and drinking water facility to increase production and improve operational efficiency. Upgrades to both facilities will increase water production to help offset the effects of drought and climate change on the community's water availability. In addition, the installation of solar arrays and battery energy storage systems at both facilities will improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and produce 7 megawatts of renewable energy. This is the first loan under a master agreement that will commit $123 million to accelerate the implementation of the $252 million Watershed Connect program. PROJECT BENEFITS • Increases energy efficiency, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, offsets drought effects, and increases climate change resiliency. • Improves cybersecurity through multi-facility upgraes to the SCADA system. • Provides long-term funding to accelerate investment in critical water infrastructure upgrades. • Saves the Yucaipa Valley Water District approximately $24.5 million by financing with a WIFIA loan. WIFIA PROGRAM Source: Yucaipa Valley Water District £% United States Environmental Protection kl m % Agency WEBSITE: www.epa.gov/wifia EMAIL: wifia@EPA.gov ------- |