Idaho Capital Sun
BY: CHRISTINA LORDS – MARCH 6, 2023
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality on Thursday announced the award of more than $35.2 million in construction grants for 10 local drinking water and wastewater systems, and on Friday, announced an additional $107,700 to help five local drinking water and wastewater systems evaluate their deficiencies and identify necessary upgrades, according to DEQ press releases.
The $35.2 million in construction grant projects are funded from American Rescue Plan Act funds that Idaho Gov. Brad Little directed to DEQ in 2022, while the $107,700 in funding is a part of DEQ’s Planning Grant Program. Funding from that program is used to develop engineering reports that identify the most cost-effective, environmentally sound ways of upgrading a system to maintain compliance with state and federal standards. Grants cover up to 50% of eligible planning costs, with the remaining cost is the grant recipient’s responsibility.
“Water is our most valuable resource, and we absolutely must keep up the infrastructure to ensure water is clean and plentiful for this generation and future ones,” Little said in the Thursday news release.
Little said investment in water-related infrastructure is one indirect way the state can help keep residents’ property taxes low.
“Property taxes are determined locally, but the investments we made in water and other infrastructure needs at the state level help relieve the burden on local government to cover costs of projects, improving the chances property owners won’t be burdened with the costs,” he said in the release.
The following entities received funding for the construction grants:
City of Aberdeen – The city of Aberdeen in Bingham County was awarded more than $5.8 million to perform wastewater system improvements, including installing a floating media integrated fixed fill activated sludge system, a flow sand filter for tertiary filtration, and a screw press for solids dewatering; adding a new electrical generator; and upgrading the supervisory control and data acquisition system.
City of Ashton – The city of Ashton in Fremont County was awarded $950,000 to construct a headworks building and replace the sewer lines.
Bruneau Water and Sewer District – Bruneau Water and Sewer District in Owyhee County was awarded more than $2.5 million to upgrade its existing lift station, reconstruct and install high-density polyethylene lining on the north and south lagoons, install a disinfection system and reuse pump station, and conduct site improvements, including adding a structural canopy and fencing, grading, and removing biosolids.
City of Elk River – The city of Elk River in Clearwater County was awarded more than $3 million to complete a closed-circuit television inspection, conduct collection surveying, improve the disinfection system, construct a new blower building and remove biosolids.
Garfield Bay Water and Sewer District – Garfield Bay Water and Sewer District in Bonner County was awarded more than $1.2 million to upgrade five sewer lift stations, install lift station standby power, extend sewer collection lines, and develop an additional wastewater reuse irrigation area.
City of Harrison – The city of Harrison in Kootenai County was awarded more than $6.5 million to transition to application treatment, construct a new 4-inch parallel force main to the system’s wastewater treatment plant, upgrade the system’s existing parallel force main, and construct a new central lift station.
City of McCammon – The city of McCammon in Bannock County was awarded more than $2.7 million to install a new water tank, upsize the main transmission line, install water meters, replace undersized water lines, and replace fire hydrants.
City of New Plymouth – The city of New Plymouth in Payette County was awarded nearly $500,000 to line lagoon number 4 with a geomembrane lining system and conduct piping and control box improvements near lagoon number 4.
City of Nezperce – The city of Nezperce in Lewis County was awarded more than $7.9 million for the implementation of wastewater reuse facilities, including installing pump stations, storage facilities, and irrigation systems.
City of Wilder – The city of Wilder in Canyon County was awarded more than $3.8 million to aid in a variety of permitting efforts such as land acquisition, preliminary design, reuse permitting, and environmental determination.
The construction grants will collectively save these communities more than $57 million compared to average costs for municipal general obligation bonds, according to an estimate from DEQ.
Meanwhile, the following entities received funding through the DEQ’s Planning Grant Program:
Bailey Creek Homeowner’s Association, Inc. – Bailey Creek Homeowner’s Association, Inc. in Caribou County was awarded $20,000 to prepare a drinking water planning study to evaluate its drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $40,000, and the remaining $20,000 will be funded by Bailey Creek Homeowner’s Association, Inc.
City of Basalt – The city of Basalt in Bingham County was awarded $12,000 to prepare a wastewater planning study to evaluate its wastewater system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $24,000, and the remaining $12,000 will be funded by the city.
City of Dubois – The city of Dubois in Clark County was awarded $30,000 to prepare a wastewater planning study to evaluate its wastewater system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $60,000, and the remaining $30,000 will be funded by the city.
Fairview Water District – Fairview Water District in Franklin County was awarded $20,000 to prepare a drinking water planning study to evaluate its drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $40,000, and the remaining $20,000 will be funded by Fairview Water District.
Starweather Owners Association, Inc. – Starweather Owners Association, Inc. in Blaine County was awarded $25,700 to prepare a drinking water planning study and environmental review to evaluate its drinking water system and identify needed improvements. The total project cost is $51,400, and the remaining $25,700 will be funded by Starweather Owners Association, Inc.
“Families, farmers, ranchers, and all Idaho residents rely on clean, efficient water and wastewater systems,” Little said in the Friday news release. “These systems are not only a crucial part of our way of life, but our economy as well. Funding for these projects from my Leading Idaho plan aims to ensure that Idaho residents — especially those in our rural communities — can depend on our water and wastewater infrastructure for generations to come.”
