(New York, N.Y.) The E.P.A. has allotted $27 million to Puerto Rico to help finance enhancements to water plans that are essential to protecting public health and the environment. The funds will be used to finance water quality protection and drinking water plans that will last far into the future.
"This backing will enhance water quality and protect drinking water across Puerto Rico," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "Clean drinking water and proper wastewater treatment are fundamental to protecting people's health, but aging water infrastructure needs to be upgraded and repaired. EPA's backing helps Puerto Rico to continue its plan to invest in drinking water and wastewater systems and protect people's health."
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, administrated by the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, was allotted $18,313,000. The plan provides low-interest loans for water quality protection plans to make enhancements to wastewater treatment systems, control pollution from rain water runoff, and protect sensitive water bodies, including the San Juan Bay estuary.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, administrated by the Puerto Rico Department of Health, was allotted $8,845,000. The plan provides low-interest loans to finance enhancements to drinking water systems, with a particular focus on providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities.
Since 1989, the E.P.A. has awarded over $700 million to Puerto Rico through these programs.
As communities develop and climate patterns shift, water infrastructure needs can only be expected to grow. Green infrastructure is a cost-effective and resilient approach to water infrastructure needs that provides benefits to communities across the nation.
For more information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, visit
http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/cwsrf/cwsrf_index.cfm.
For information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund plan visit
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/.
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http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at
http://facebook.com/eparegion2.
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