March 14, 2005

STATE AWARDS MORE THAN $519 MILLION IN LOW-INTEREST LOANS FOR 92 LOCAL WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS

More than $519 million in low-interest loans was awarded today to 67 Massachusetts communities, wastewater districts and water suppliers for 92 environmental infrastructure and planning improvement projects.

“These awards are a substantial investment in existing facilities and systems which are a critical component for the protection of the environment and the public health,” said Governor Mitt Romney. “The funded projects prevent water pollution and help rehabilitate current infrastructure so that communities may plan for the future.”

The funds come from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF). Known formally as the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust, the funds are administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the State Treasurer’s Office.

The Clean Water SRF will provide $364.6 million in financing for 64 construction and planning projects aimed at eliminating combined sewer overflows, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, extending sewers and developing long-term wastewater management plans. An additional $154.7 million in loans from the Drinking Water SRF will finance 28 drinking water treatment, storage and distribution projects across the Commonwealth.

“Across the Commonwealth, in places like Nantucket, Brockton, Holyoke and Lowell, protecting our water resources is important work, and the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust is ready to provide funding,” said Treasurer Timothy Cahill, who also serves as chairman of the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust.

“Integrating the Commonwealth’s Sustainable Development principles with the SRF program, we are able to finance projects that rehabilitate water infrastructure, correct combined sewer overflows that negatively impact water bodies across the state, and target vital upgrades of secondary treatment and failed Title 5 systems,” said Commonwealth Development Secretary Doug Foy.

“The SRF funding priorities bring us closer to the goal of providing clean drinking water and unspoiled wetlands and waterways for all of our citizens,” said Environmental Affairs Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelder. “The investment of these funds in key municipal projects will result in healthier communities and a safer environment.”

“The SRF programs offer municipalities the resources they need to ensure a clean, abundant supply of water and provide responsible wastewater management,” said DEP Commissioner Robert W. Golledge Jr. “These programs are an important part of our mission to protect and preserve the environment, the public health and our quality of life.”

Massachusetts has awarded more than $3.2 billion in Clean Water SRF loans since the program’s inception in 1991. The Drinking Water SRF, initiated in 1999, has financed more than $844 million in projects.

Annual grants from the federal government provide seed money for the Massachusetts SRF programs. Matching state funds leverage the federal contribution to make it possible for qualifying municipalities, wastewater districts and water suppliers to borrow money at two percent interest for a range of environmental infrastructure projects.

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CLEAN WATER REVOLVING FUND 2005

NEW PROJECTS

APPLICANT

NEW BEDFORD

Dean Street Sewer Separation, Phase 2

$3,911,000

LOWELL

Phase I CSO LTCP

$15,700,000

HOLYOKE CSO Abatement $19,112,000

GLOUCESTER Washington St. CSO $4,897,000

MONTAGUE CSO Abatement $1,847,000

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Phase 4 WWTF Upgrade $1,348,000

MWRA CSO $70,000,000

CAMBRIDGE Stormwater Management Improvements $8,800,000

NANTUCKET Upgrade Surfside WWTF

$35,531,000

WAREHAM Sewer Extension $5,945,000

ACUSHNET Phase 2 Sewer Extension $8,309,000

SOUTH HADLEY WWTF & PS Improvements $6,085,000

LEE WWTF Upgrade $15,221,000

MWRA Cummingsville Replacement Sewer $3,000,000

PEABODY Water Conservation/WW Reuse $10,070,000

TAUNTON Phase 2 –I/I Rehab $2,025,000

NANTUCKET I/I Rehab $2,710,000

EGREMONT WWTF & Collection System $2,978,000

NANTUCKET Stormwater Rehab $6,000,000

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH I/I Rehab $280,000

DARTMOUTH Bayview Sewer Extension $4,640,000

DARTMOUTH Old Westport Road Sewer Extension $4,021,000

WALTHAM Sewer Rehab (3 Contracts) $5,255,000

CANTON Interceptor Replacement $7,246,000

HOPKINTON Construct Effluent Disposal Beds $5,450,000

HAVERHILL

Phase IIB – drum removal & disposal

$3,500,000

MWRA Electrical Upgrades $1,000,000

DRACUT Sewer Extension

$1,647,000

SAUGUS SSO Reduction $963,000

BARNSTABLE Sewer Extension & WWTF Upgrade $10,000,000

ATHOL WWTF Upgrade $5,000,000

LONGMEADOW Interceptor Replacement $3,017,000

MELROSE Upham St. FM Replacement $5,140,000

SOMERSET

Relief Sewer & PS Upgrade

$894,000

SOMERSET Relief Sewer & PS Upgrade $654,000

HAVERHILL Sewer Extension $1,188,000

MILLBURY

Area 4 – Sewer Construction

$3,942,620

MWRA Upgrades $3,539,800

MILLBURY

Area 15 Construction

$1,454,300

MILLBURY Area 6 & 7 Construction $6,911,300

EDGARTOWN Sewer Edgartown Great Pond Watershed $1,669,000

TOTAL OF NEW PROJECTS $302,288,220

MULTI-YEAR CARRYOVER AND STATUTORY PROJECTS

APPLICANT PROJECT NAME IUP AWARD

BROCKTON WWTF Improvements & Sewer System Rehabilitation $24,000,000

CAMBRIDGE Contract #12 Const. Of New SW Outfall $8,305,322

CHELMSFORD Phase 4F and 4G Sewer Program $6,282,787

MWRA Plant Optimization/Ancillary Modifications $3,000,000

MWRA Upper Neponset Valley Relief Interceptor $10,000,000

TOTAL OF MULTI-YEAR CARRYOVER AND STATUTORY PROJECTS $56,088,109

PLANNING PROJECTS

APPLICANT PROJECT NAME IUP AWARD

ASHLAND Stormwater Management Plan $250,000

ASSABET CONSORTIUM CWMP $500,000

ATTLEBORO CWMP $400,000

BUCKLAND

I/I Study & SSES

$175,000

CANTON Stormwater Management Plan $250,000

HINGHAM CWMP $400,000

LEICESTER WATER SUPPLYDISTRICT Stormwater Management Plan $667,426

LITTLETON CWRMP $150,000

LOWELL REGIONAL WASTEWATER UTILITY PER/CSO $250,000

MARLBOROUGH CWMP $650,000

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH SSES $87,000

PITTSFIELD Stormwater Management Plan $922,850

ROCKLAND CWMP $400,000

SWANSEA CWMP $600,000

TYNGSBOROUGH EIR to Supplement CWMP $300,000

WOBURN Phase II Stormwater Management Plan $225,000

TOTAL OF PLANNING PROJECTS $6,227,276

TOTAL OF CWSRF INTENDED USE PLAN $364,603,605

DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND 2005

NEW PROJECTS

APPLICANT PROJECT NAME IUP AWARD

WILLIAMSTOWN PWS Consolidation $3,225,555

MATTAPOISETT RIVER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT Water Treatment Plant $13,300,000

TAUNTON Various System Improvements $7,695,000

ADAMS FIRE DISTRICT New Storage Tank & Pipeline/PS Modifications $2,144,000

HAVERHILL WTF & Distribution Improvements $3,074,000

AQUARION WATER COMPANY OF MA-MILLBURY Water Treatment Facility $1,464,000

FITCHBURG

Clean & Line Transmission Mains $1,590,000

FALL RIVER

Improvements – WTF/PS/Storage Tank

$4,310,000

TRI-TOWN WATER BOARD New Water Treatment Facility $16,000,000

BROCKTON Upgrades to Water Treatment Facilities $16,000,000

STERLING Well #2 Upgrade $830,000

BURLINGTON Water Treatment Facility Upgrade $6,830,000

HOPKINTON New Well Construction $1,310,000

GROTON Develop New Well $1,150,000

READING New Water Treatment Facility $14,564,000

SALEM Storage Tank and Water Main Improvements $7,640,000

ANDOVER WTF Filter Expansion $4,767,000

NORWOOD WTF and Transmission Main $1,000,000

WEST BOYLSTON Replace AC pipe and Pump Station $938,500

DUDLEY Wells/Scada/Security/Storage Tank $4,394,000

MWRA

Spot Pond Mains, Clean Etc. $1,000,000

MULTI-YEAR CARRYOVER AND STATUTORY PROJECTS

APPLICANT PROJECT NAME IUP AWARD

EMERGENCY SRF SET ASIDE $2,000,000

COHASSET System Wide Capital Improvement Program $2,000,000

LAWRENCE Water Treatment Plant and System Improvements $8,540,000

MWRA Walnut Hill Water Treatment Plant $7,000,000

MWRA Southern Spine Distribution Mains

$4,000,000

MWRA Blue Hills Covered Storage $4,000,000

NORTHAMPTON Construction of Water Filtration Plant $10,000,000

TOTAL OF MULTI-YEAR CARRYOVER AND STATUTORY PROJECT $37,540,000

TOTAL OF DWSRF INTENDED USE PLAN $154,706,155

FINAL TOTAL OF COMBINED SRF INTENDED USE PLAN $519,309,760