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6-13-2023 11:13pm
DWWD Receives Largest Grant of Any MA Public Water System in Current Award Cycle
Darlene Cancell
Editor
On Tuesday afternoon, June 13th, Dedham-Westwood Water District (the District) announced its receipt of a $907,400 State Revolving Fund Grant (SRF) for a lead water service line inventory project - by far the largest grant awarded to any public water supplier in the current cycle of awards approved by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (the Trust).
The District 's grant award represents 36 percent of the total amount in grant awards given in this award cycle. At a Board of Trustees meeting of the Clean Water Trust on June 7th, a little over $2.5 million was approved in grants to thirteen public water suppliers for Lead Service Line Planning Program Projects. After the $907,400 grant award to the District, the next-highest grant award amount is $311,550 to Chicopee.
The funding to the District will support creating a lead water service line electronic inventory of the District's distribution system. The District is working with Weston & Sampson Engineers to obtain information about approximately 13,500 public and private water service line connections. Information gathered includes, but is not limited to, service line material, size, and location. Once the inventory is complete, a database will be created and will be made publicly available.
Executive Director Blake Lukis expressed gratitude for the funds. “These funds will help the District create a comprehensive service line inventory that complies with the newly revised regulatory requirements," he said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a Revised Lead and Copper Rule in December 2022. The revised rule includes the requirement that public water suppliers create a lead service line inventory and replacement schedule by October 2024.
Along with grant awards of $2.5 million, the Trust has approved low-interest loans to public water suppliers. It has approved $107.6 million for clean water projects and $38.6 million for drinking water projects. The total funding in grants plus low-interest loans in this award cycle comes to over $148.6 million.
The stated purpose of the Trust is to provide funding for developing community resiliency, building or replacing water infrastructure that enhances water resources, supporting drinking water safety, and protecting public health.
Thanks to the Dedham-Westwood Water District for sharing its news with Westwood Minute.
Updated 6/14/2023 at 12:50 p.m. Typographical corrections have been made, including to the date of the District's announcement of "Tuesday afternoon, June 13th" (corrected from "Tuesday afternoon, June 12th").
