State provides money for wastewater plant upgrades

By on Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – The Washington State Department of Ecology has awarded the city of College Place a $10 million forgivable loan and a $16 million low-interest loan. The funding will provide upgrades to infrastructure to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, including increasing storage lagoon capacity for wastewater.

The upgrades to the plant’s infrastructure filters wastewater and will prevent excess nutrients from flowing into Garrison Creek and the Walla Walla River.

City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello said securing more grant money and low-interest loan funding helps defray the burden to the taxpayer for the cost of state-mandated upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Ecology also just added $100,000 in funding for a study to see if sending College Place’s wastewater to Walla Walla is cost efficient and better for the environment.

Photo from the city of College Place