Greenville has been awarded $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act grant funds toward a planned $1 million project to design and construct chemical feed improvements at the town’s wastewater treatment facility.
Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services announced that Gov. Chris Sununu and the state’s Executive Council approved funding for multiple projects, from various sources, totaling $17.8 million. Greenville’s funds are allocated through Clean Water Infrastructure grant funding, for use in making improvements to clean water infrastructure, including sewers, pipelines and pump stations.
The town has been struggling for more than a decade with its wastewater effluent, with several materials exceeding state minimums, including levels of aluminum, phosphorus and copper. The town has been working with the state to address the issue, including running a chemical treatment pilot program, using a ferric polymer blend and magnesium hydroxide to bring effluent back in line with state standards.
After several years of adjustments, this past year, Greenville was able to comply with the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency general permit.
“This is a process that’s been going on for 12 years,” said Town Administrator Tara Sousa. “The fact that we have begun to consistently meet those values, and to have that be a continuing goal, is very important. To achieve this and be in compliance is huge.”
The chemical feed system will formalize that program, by building it into the wastewater treatment plant.
In addition to the ARPA money, the project is expected to be funded by other federal and state sources, including $750,000 from a congressionally-directed spending request. The remaining $100,000 is expected to come from Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, awarded in 2021.
“The fact that we’ve been able to get this funding, and not have to push that cost to ratepayers, where we already have very high sewer rates, is invaluable,” Sousa said.
Sousa said the funding from Congress has been approved, and the town has selected Underwood Engineering to design the system, a process that is already underway. She said the town is anticipating accepting bids for construction in March of 2023, but does not yet have a timeline for the project’s completion. When voters approved the project and use of the anticipated funding sources during Town Meeting in March, they also approved the use of the funds through at least 2025.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.