Recovery Act Jumpstarts Construction of Wastewater Treatment Plant in Port Wentworth, Georgia

(ATLANTA - February 26, 2010) Today, the E.P.A. (EPA) Acting Deputy Regional Administrator Beverly Banister along with officials from the U.S.D.A., Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) and the city of Port Wentworth broke ground on a wastewater treatment facility in Port Wentworth, GA. The wastewater infrastructure project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is helping create green jobs, boost the local economy, enhance aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment.

"This Recovery plan is about vision, strong partnerships, water reuse and conservation, investment in communities and a strong commitment to safeguarding human health and the environment," said Acting E.P.A. Deputy Regional Administrator Beverly Banister. "It will have the benefit of making reclaimed or reuse water for irrigation as a substitute for potable water in an area of limited groundwater resources and will provide for a population expected to increase from less than 10,000 to over 22,000 by the year 2020."

The plan received a total of $17.5 million in ARRA funds. With ARRA funds from EPA, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) distributed $10,000,000, of which approximately $4,000,000 of the principal will be forgiven as part of the stimulus provision to create jobs and enhance infrastructure as a precursor to economic growth. Port Wentworth, in addition, received $7,500,000 through ARRA from U.S.D.A. Rural Development.

The new wastewater treatment facility will be able to process 2.0 million gallons per day (g.p.d). The facility will be located on 22 acres west of the Savannah River and less than a mile southeast of I-95. The new system will also use technology to introduce oxygen into the effluent or discharged water, which is a requirement for discharging into the Savannah River. The plan will include 2 superoxygenating cones, also called Speece Cones, which have been in use for about 20 years primarily by commercial businesses like pulp and paper factories. This appears to be the 1st time the technology will be used in this way by a municipality. The plan is expected to create and/or preserve approximately 100 jobs in the area.

One year ago, E.P.A. was entrusted with $7.2 billion dollars to invest in our economy --- to rebuild critical infrastructure in our communities; to invest in jobs that would put our citizens back to work and to rekindle a strong and thriving economy. In that short year, E.P.A. has worked diligently to move that money into the hands of our partners and to clear the way for rapid investments in construction, land reuse and redevelopment.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Feb. 17, and has directed the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at www.Recovery.gov.

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