State allocates more than $155 million for water quality improvement projects

The state has allocated more than $155 million to 79 water quality improvement projects.

The allocation includes $77 million in federal stimulus funding – $53 million for sewage system upgrades and $24 million for drinking water improvement projects. More than $78 million in State Revolving Fund dollars supplemented the federal stimulus money.

By distributing the funds to many projects, “we were able to help more communities with loan forgiveness and get more work done to protect public health and the environment,” Gov. Chet Culver said in announcing the allocations Wednesday.

Each project received from 20 percent to 50 percent of its cost in forgivable loans, reducing user rates while improving water and sewer infrastructure, said Patti Cale-Finnegan, who coordinates the State Revolving Fund.

Congress stipulated that at least 20 percent of the stimulus projects must be “green,” meaning they “go above and beyond traditional improvement practices” in protecting the environment, she said.

Among Eastern Iowa cities receiving funding for wastewater treatment improvements are Urbana ($3,786,000 in a 3 percent loan and $1,607,000 in a forgivable loan), Elkader ($2,474,000 in a 3 percent loan and $1,633,000 in a forgivable loan), Toledo ($2,717,000 in a 3 percent loan and $1,154,000 in a forgivable loan), Delhi ($1,065,000 in a 3 percent loan and $452,000 in a forgivable loan), Dyersville ($1,192,000 in a 3 percent loan and $296,000 in a forgivable loan), Elgin ($707,000 in a 3 percent loan and $300,000 in a forgivable loan), Cascade ($145,000 in a 3 percent loan and $36,000 in a forgivable loan), and Maquoketa ($138,000 in a 3 percent loan and $34,000 in a forgivable loan).

Eastern Iowa cities receiving funding for drinking water improvements are Tama ($836,000 in a 3 percent loan and $355,000 in a forgivable loan), Wyoming ($473,000 in a 3 percent loan and $312,000 in a forgivable loan), Fairfax ($139,000 in a 3 percent loan and $35,000 in a forgivable loan), and North English ($82,000 in a 3 percent loan and $21,000 in a forgivable loan).