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EPA Awards Washington $24.4 Million for Drinking Water Safeguards

Release Date: 5/20/1998
Contact Information: Gerald Opatz
opatz.gerald@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-4039

May 20, 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 98-28


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Drinking water in dozens of Washington’s small communities will now be better-protected, thanks to a $24.4 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant was awarded to the Washington Department of Health to provide communities low interest
loans to make water system infrastructure upgrades and improvements.

According to Chuck Clarke, EPA regional administrator in Seattle, today’s award will help make great strides in protecting drinking water, especially in the state’s small communities.

“Drinking water sources in Washington, particularly in rural areas, will be better protected as a result of today’s action,” said Clarke. “Safe drinking water is one of the most basic requirements for health and vitality, yet most of us take what comes out of our taps for granted. This funding will help ensure that more Washington residents enjoy clean, safe drinking water.”

This is the first full grant to the state under a new program referred to as the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. This program was established under the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments. Over half of the loans will go to systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons. These smaller systems generally have less access to capital than larger systems to make water system improvements.

The Washington Department of Health (DOH) jointly manages the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund with the Washington State Public Works Board and its partner, the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED). DOH has developed a priority list of projects to receive loans; projects to resolve the greatest public health risk and to improve compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements receive priority.

“This award comes at a most opportune time,” said Gregg Grunnenfelder, director of the DOH Division of Drinking Water. “We’re seeing some serious problems in small water systems around the state, and these funds will be a big help in taking action to protect people’s health. This has to be a sustained effort over many years, and this is a great beginning.”

The Public Works Board and CTED will be responsible for actually administering the loans. In 1997, EPA awarded DOH a grant for $6.7 million to assist DOH and CTED in developing the loan program and to carry out other public health protection programs authorized by the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments.