State Provides Sustantial Funds for Centennial Water Treatment Facility

Source: amherstma.gov

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust has awarded a 2023 State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan with principle forgiveness for the Town’s Centennial Water Treatment Facility.  Additional support for this project is listed on the 2024 State Revolving Fund plan.

Through the 2023 State Revolving Fund (SRF), Amherst received a loan of $15,000,000 with an initial principle forgiveness of $2,970,000 to construct the Centennial Water Treatment Plant.  In August, it was announced that the State would increase the principle forgiveness for this project to $597,000.

The SRF program for clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects is structured as a loan forgiveness program that is intended to make the project more affordable to communities and their rate payers.  The SRF loan program is a joint Federal-State financing loan program that provides subsidized interest rate loans to improve or protect water quality and infrastructure systems in the commonwealth.

The recently released 2024 Draft SRF Intended Use Plans (IUP) includes an additional $4,930,000 loan to the Town to complete the Centennial Water Treatment Plant. The 2024 SRF loan would include principle forgiveness of $976,140.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said, “These funds come at a crucial time as we continue to replace critical infrastructure for the town. This work must be done so we can continue to provide an adequate supply of clean drinking water to town residents and our institutional partners well into the future.” He added, “This significant grant will lessen the cost for the residents and others who depend on the town’s water supply.”

Amy Rusiecki, the town’s Assistant Superintendent of Public Works noted,  “The town has five groundwater production wells and four surface water reservoirs that supply an average of 3 million gallons per day (MGD) of safe drinking water to the residents and businesses, as well as Amherst and Hampshire Colleges, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and parts of Pelham, Belchertown, Leverett and Hadley.  Having this facility online gives us the resiliency we need to overcome things such as climate change that might impact our water system in the future.”

Until 2018, the Centennial Water Treatment Facility – located in Pelham – filtered about one million gallons of surface water daily for Amherst. The existing facility was in dire need of replacement, due to the age of the facility, as well as changes in the water quality that made the existing treatment process less effective.

The Centennial facility went offline in 2018 after lightning struck and damaged significant electrical components. This, in essence, was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back as the town had been studying replacement options and had developed a preliminary design for repairs to the facility before the lightning strike. The Facility had been struggling to perform at needed levels for many years.

This project includes construction of a new Centennial Water Treatment Facility with effective and efficient treatment technology.  Construction on this project began in May 2023. Demolition of the existing Centennial Water Treatment Facility is complete. Construction on its replacement is expected to finish in May 2025.

There is a public comment period on the Draft IUPs which is open through January 31, 2024 and a virtual public hearing will be held that morning, as well.  If Amherst is awarded the 2024 SRF loan, the town will receive a total of nearly $7 million in principle forgiveness over the two loans, or nearly 35% of the project cost.

The Clean Water Trust helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health, and develops resilient communities. It accomplishes these objectives by providing low-interest loans and grants to cities, towns, and water utilities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds. SRFs function like an environmental infrastructure bank by financing water infrastructure projects. The SRF programs are partnerships between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth. To date, the Trust has financed approximately $8.25 billion for nearly three hundred borrowers, serving 97% of the Commonwealth’s population.

For more information, visit the website here:  https://www.amherstma.gov/1491/Centennial-Water-Treatment-Plant