California given EPA water funding

California has been awarded $174m in federal funding by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control water pollution and provide low-cost loans for statewide drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades.

Of the funding, the California Department of Public Health has received a $79m grant for its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and the California State Water Resources Control Board received a $95m grant for its Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

EPA Pacific Southwest regional administrator Jared Blumenfeld said that in the last 26 years, the EPA has provided more than $4bn in funding for California water projects alone.

"Without this investment at the federal level, many communities would not be able to satisfy Californians’ basic needs for clean and safe drinking water," Blumenfeld added.

The funds are used for a wide variety of water quality projects, including nonpoint source pollution control, watershed protection or restoration, water and energy efficiency projects, wastewater reclamation, drinking water infrastructure improvements, technical assistance, and traditional municipal wastewater treatment projects.

Projects previously supported by State Revolving Funds include an $11m loan to the City of Lathrop to build an arsenic treatment facility, improve wells and lay down new water mains for over 16,000 residents. Also, a $34m loan was provided to LA County for the construction of a new pumping plant and renovating aging water mains.