Washington Spends $109 Million to Improve Water Quality

OLYMPIA, Washington, May 24, 2004 (ENS) - Cities with aging wastewater treatment plants, cash strapped volunteer organizations, counties, tribes and other groups working to solve water pollution problems will be offered $109 million this year by the Washington State Department of Ecology to improve and protect water quality.

"These funds will make a real difference in solving some of our state's crucial water quality problems," said Dave Peeler, manager of Ecology's water quality program. "We only wish we could do more."

Local governments, Native American tribes and nonprofit groups submitted 98 proposals requesting approximately $134 million for the upcoming yearly funding cycle.

Of these, 41 projects were selected to receive a share of the $109 million in grants and low interest or no interest loans available this year.

Examples of projects to be funded include volunteer water monitoring and stream planting programs in Whatcom County, low impact development in San Juan County, stream restoration projects in Clark, Adams and Stevens counties, and upgrades to the sewage treatment plant in Chehalis.

The Department of Ecology selected the projects, representing 23 of the state's 39 counties, based on the amount of available funding, existing or potential water-quality problems, the proposed project's likely effectiveness at solving pollution problems, state and federal requirements, community priorities, and local initiatives that may be able to help the project succeed.

Funding is provided through the state Centennial Clean Water Fund, Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund and federal Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint-Source Fund.

Ecology distributes the grants and loans and provides technical assistance to qualifying communities.

The funds will help the selected communities upgrade municipal wastewater treatment plants to serve growing populations; clean up polluted lakes, rivers and streams; reduce and manage pollution from storm water, urban development and agricultural practices; reclaim waste water; and improve habitat for salmon and other threatened fish species.