One Million Oregon Residents Will Benefit from Federal Loan to Improve Drinking Water Quality
Nearly one million Oregon residents living in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties, will benefit from a $319 million water infrastructure loan to meet federal and state safe drinking water standards.
The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Portland is for the construction of the new Bull Run Treatment Projects – a series of improvements to the Portland water system that aims to address aging infrastructure, comply with federal and state drinking water regulations, improve water quality, increase system reliability, and protect public health.
Project Will Create 6,100 Additional Construction Industry Jobs
An exciting aspect of the loan is that it will help create 6,100 jobs, with more than $400 million plowed into firms certified by the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) that offer apprenticeship programs for people from diverse backgrounds to learn trade skills and obtain jobs.
This commitment highlights the City of Portland’s ongoing initiative to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The construction contracts for the new filtration plant and pipelines will feature Community Benefits Agreements that promote workforce equity by prioritizing opportunities for women and people of color in skilled trades.
Additionally, the agreements maximize participation from contractors and subcontractors representing disadvantaged businesses, including those owned by minorities, women, emerging small business owners, and service-disabled veterans.
This is the second WIFIA loan made to Portland, bringing the total investment in drinking water upgrades to more than $1 billion, the largest EPA contribution to a drinking water project, says Wendi Wilkes, EPA Director of Infrastructure Implementation at EPA Water. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is Oregon’s drinking water quality regulator.
New Filtration Plant and Pipelines
Portland will use the funds to construct a new filtration plant and related pipelines to filter out a pathogen called Cryptosporidium, parasites. These parasites cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses and ensure quality water supply.
Oregon senator Jeff Merkley, who is responsible for the creation of the WIFIA program, says that federal backing will create thousands of construction jobs, providing much-needed income for working families.
Portland Mayor, Ted Wheeler says the filtration system with solve water quality problems posed by wildfire, seismic, and weather-related issues.
Portland Deputy City Administrator, Priya Dhanapal says the total contribution to the three counties amounts to $1.59 billion over the next decade, creating jobs and providing a safe and reliable infrastructure on which residents, industries, and businesses can thrive.
Read here about the EPA’s WIFIA Program and for water infrastructure investments go to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Sources & References
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Press Release
- https://www.epa.gov/wifia
- https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure