Vermont allocates $29.25 million to combat combined sewer pollution
(UI) — Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have announced $29.25 million in grants aimed at improving municipal combined sewer infrastructure and curbing pollution in Vermont’s water bodies.
These funds, allocated as grants to 11 Vermont municipalities by DEC, prioritize projects aimed at reducing or treating combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Examples of these projects include separating stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, increasing storage within the sewer network, and modifying wastewater treatment facilities to mitigate peak flow during wet weather events.
The program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), was proposed for this purpose by the Governor and approved by the Legislature.
Governor Scott emphasized the importance of upgrading water and sewer infrastructure with ARPA dollars, citing benefits to economic development, environmental cleanliness, and public health. The focus remains on critical infrastructure upgrades across communities statewide.
Combined sewer systems, which collect sewage and stormwater runoff in the same pipe for treatment at a wastewater treatment facility, pose challenges during heavy storms. The overflow of untreated sewage and stormwater into streams and lakes during such events, although designed to prevent backups into homes and roads, adds pollution to water bodies.
To address this, municipalities must adhere to Vermont’s CSO rules, prompting modernization efforts to bring these systems into compliance. The ARPA funding will aid in these endeavors, enabling municipalities to update infrastructure and reduce pollution entering waterways from CSOs.
The allocated funds will be utilized by municipalities such as Burlington, Enosburg Falls, Hartford, Middlebury, Montpelier, Newport, Rutland, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Vergennes, and Northfield for projects aimed at permanently reducing or eliminating sewer overflow events.
Related News
From Archive
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Alaska LNG pipeline could require 7,000 workers at peak construction, developers say
- Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
- Elon Musk's Boring Co. fined for dumping drilling waste into Vegas sewer system
- $1.4 billion Midwest pipeline expansion to move more Canadian oil to U.S. Gulf
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
Comments