News Releases from Region 03
EPA Recognizes Waynesboro, Virginia for Excellence and Innovation in Clean Water Infrastructure
Contact: David Sternberg (215) 814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov
EPA Recognizes Waynesboro, Virginia for Excellence and Innovation in Clean Water Infrastructure
PHILADELPHIA (November 8, 2017) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has recognized Waynesboro, Virginia, for excellence and innovation for stormwater retention within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. EPA’s Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programs and assistance recipients.
The CWSRF is a federal-state partnership that provides communities a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. Over the past 30 years, CWSRF programs have provided more than $125 billion in financing for water quality infrastructure.
“For decades the Clean Water State Revolving Fund has supported critical water infrastructure projects that help grow the American economy and support our way of life,” said Mike Shapiro, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “These projects are a testament to the power of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in leveraging investment to meet the country’s diverse clean water needs.”
The City of Waynesboro transformed a vacant field containing a small stream and dry detention pond into a wetland stormwater retention system that protects the South River and Chesapeake Bay from polluted run-off. This wetland is a Level 2 design, meaning it removes 75 percent of incoming phosphorus and 55 percent of nitrogen loads.
The existing stream was re-routed through terraced pools and ponds created in the field, which serve to retain and delay the flow of excess water during rainstorms. Native plants and trees placed on-site help to filter and absorb the phosphorus and nitrogen from the polluted run-off before it moves downstream to the South River and the Chesapeake Bay.
Additionally, the City plans to develop a community garden, trails around the ponds, and signs explaining the history of the project to allow residents of the nearby Jefferson Park neighborhood to enjoy the area. Waynesboro funded the $1.7 million project with a loan of $870,376 at
0 percent interest for 20 years through the Virginia Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and a state grant of $861,364 from the Virginia Stormwater Local Assistance Fund.
Twenty-eight projects by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the 2017 PISCES program. In Region 3, the following projects were recognized:
More about each of these projects and the PISCES program can be found: https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/pisces