Special to the Jefferson Herald
DES MOINES - Governor Reynolds last week announced that 23 communities have been awarded a total of $9 million in grants to advance water quality projects. The funding is made available through the Wastewater and Drinking Water
Treatment Financial Assistance Program, which was created as a part of Senate File 512, the first legislation signed into law by Governor Reynolds in January 2018.
Jefferson was one of those 23 communities, and was awarded a $500,000 grant to help fund their wastewater treatment project. The estimated total project cost for renovations is nearly $16.3 million.
“The first bill I signed into law as Governor in 2018 created a long-term funding source to assist communities in upgrading their water infrastructure,” said Gov. Reynolds. “This program has done just that, with a total of more than $18 million In investments leveraging more than $375 million in additional funds invested in critical water quality infrastructure projects across the state.”
Jefferson’s treatment plant no longer meets the requirements of the state’s nutrient reduction strategy, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The renovation plan, developed in conjunction with Bolton & Menk Inc. – the city’s consulting engineering firm – anticipates that the city will complete the project in June 2024.
The improvements to the wastewater treatment plant are required as part of the state’s nutrient reduction strategy. “Point source” effluents, like those from city treatment plants, are obligated to meet definite state standards.
“Non-point source” effluents, like runoff from farm fields and tiles, have no similar legal requirements; they fall under the state’s voluntary nutrient reduction strategy.
The 2022 program received 60 applications requesting more than $24 million in water quality grants. A committee consisting of designees from the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program applications based on the program’s priorities.
Priorities for grant awards include: Disadvantaged communities; Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed; Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies; Communities with the highest sewer or water rates; Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction; and projects to address improvements to drinking water source waters.
The program receives a portion of the tax on metered water and had more than $9 million available for allocation in 2022. Grants will be awarded through the program on an annual basis through 2039.
The Wastewater program has assisted a total of more than 50 communities through a total of nearly $18 million in water quality grants since the first awards were granted in 2019. The program is expected to have approximately $6 million in available funds in 2023 based on the portion of tax that will be allocated to the program.