EPA approves $319 million loan for drinking water upgrades in Portland, Ore.
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $319 million loan under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to help the City of Portland enhance its drinking water system.
This funding will support the construction of the Bull Run Treatment Projects, which aim to meet federal and state safe drinking water standards and protect the health of nearly 1 million residents in Oregon’s Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties.
This is Portland’s second WIFIA loan for the Bull Run Treatment Program, bringing its total loans under the program to over $1 billion. The loan’s favorable terms are expected to save the city approximately $140 million over its lifespan.
“Thriving communities expect and depend on reliable drinking water,” said Wendi Wilkes, EPA Director of Infrastructure Implementation for EPA Water. “These two WIFIA loans mark the largest EPA contribution ever to a drinking water project, and an impressive step forward for the City of Portland as they ensure safe drinking water for their residents.”
The project includes building a new filtration facility and associated pipelines to remove Cryptosporidium, a pathogen in the Bull Run water supply. The filtration system will also address future water quality challenges, improve system resilience, and ensure high-quality drinking water for residents.
Portland’s Water Bureau estimates the project will create 6,100 jobs, with over $400 million directed to firms certified by the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). The city has also prioritized equity by including Community Benefits Agreements in construction contracts. These agreements set workforce diversity goals and create opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned, and emerging small businesses.
Local officials emphasized the importance of the project. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler highlighted the need to prepare for risks like wildfires and seismic events. “Filtration is the versatile solution Portland needs to address the water quality risks posed by the seismic, wildfire-, and weather-related issues we will face in the future,” Wheeler said.
The EPA’s WIFIA program, established in 2014, has financed nearly $21 billion for water infrastructure projects nationwide, supporting $45 billion in investments and creating over 150,000 jobs. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has further bolstered water infrastructure funding with a historic $50 billion investment.
Related News
From Archive
- OSHA investigates fatal trench collapse at Conroe construction site
- Final Lake Erie sewer tunnel project set to begin after decades-long $3 billion effort
- Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
- Oil pipeline struck during fiber optic construction spills into L.A. storm drains
- Fiber drilling strike triggers major sewer failure, lawsuits in Florida
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- Texas811 launches real-time excavation detection to prevent utility strikes
- Race Communications breaks ground on Bakersfield fiber network
- Final Lake Erie sewer tunnel project set to begin after decades-long $3 billion effort
- Inside Infrastructure: Utility locators warn of systemic failures in damage prevention process
Comments