JEFFERSON CITY, MO, Feb. 17, 2010 -- During a groundbreaking ceremony today, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources presented the city of Springfield with a $3,000,000 grant and a $13,000,000 loan for wastewater improvements. This project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or Recovery Act.
The Recovery Act provides significant funding to assist communities with infrastructure needs for water quality, wastewater and drinking water. A portion of the funding was targeted toward green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency and environmentally innovative projects. Missouri has exceeded the federal requirement of using 20 percent of the Recovery Act funding on green infrastructure projects. By funding projects such as Springfield, the department has awarded approximately 37 percent of the Recovery Act funding for green infrastructure projects. This infusion of grant and loan funding will help the city protect its citizens and the environment by making necessary wastewater improvements.
The city will use the grant and loan to replace the deteriorating airport lift station with a gravity sewer and replace the existing ozone generation system with a newer more energy efficient ozone generation system. The new ozone system will reduce energy consumption and maintenance requirements saving the city approximately $6 million over the next 20 years. The city will also use $1,090,000 in local funds. The project is estimated to cost $17,090,000 and is expected to be completed in spring 2012.
The Department of Natural Resources received the Recovery Act funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The department's Water Protection Program will administer the grant and loan funds. The department is committed to working closely with communities to assist with funding efforts that support water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects as well as provide a financial savings.
For more information on the federal Recovery Act, visit recovery.gov. For more information on Missouri's transform initiatives, visit transform.mo.gov. For more information, contact the department's Water Protection Program, Financial Assistance Center, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or call 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1192 or visit the department's web site at dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/srf.
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