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City of Lennox (SD) recognized for water quality infrastructure

Release Date: 07/11/2011
Contact Information: Contact Information: Brian Friel, 303-312-6277, Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, 303-312-6077

Recovery Act funds investments in new sequencing batch reactor treatment system

(Denver, Colo. – July 11, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today presented an award to the City of Lennox, SD, for its new treatment works facility. Brian Friel, coordinator of EPA’s state revolving fund program in Denver, presented Mayor Orville Wiebers a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) award for its new treatment facility project.

In 2010, the City of Lennox received two loans with a sum of $2,796,000 from the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources to build a new treatment works to enable the City to maintain compliance with the Clean Water Act. A portion of each loan was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and was subsidized through some principal forgiveness.

Water quality classifications for Long Creek were recently changed to provide better protections for human health and the environment. As a result, Lennox invested in the construction of a new sequencing batch reactor mechanical aeration system treatment facility, including ultraviolet disinfection of effluent prior to discharge.

“A $3 million project is a huge commitment for a community of less than 3,000, but it was made possible by more than $1.5 million in principal forgiveness and 30-year extended term financing”, said Brian Friel, “Finding an innovative funding package was key to moving this project forward. The City of Lennox and the state of South Dakota accomplished this critical task to realize a new advanced treatment works to help protect water quality in Long Creek while also keeping sanitary sewer rates affordable.”

With the passages of the Amendments to the Clean Water Act in 1987, the U.S. Congress made funds for water infrastructure improvements readily available. EPA’s state revolving fund program provides low-interest subsidized loans for water quality projects. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities. Nationally, CWSRFs have funded over $84 billion in water quality projects.

For more information visit our Clean Water State Revolving Fund website.