The EPA has announced a low-interest loan of $348 million to upgrade wastewater infrastructure

feaCedar Rapids, Iowa – The Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday that Cedar Rapids will receive funding to modernize its wastewater treatment plant.

In addition to treating industrial trash, that facility also handles everything that city dwellers flush down the drain. The city claims that of the 25 million gallons of wastewater it handles daily, 20 million come from industry and the remaining portion is from residential sources.

The forty-four-year-old “Water Pollution Control facility” cleans water from Cedar Rapids and the neighboring municipalities. According to Roy Hesemann, director of utilities, the building required renovations.

According to Hesemann, “it’s really eliminating some of the older, less efficient, cutting edge or leading-edge technology, which is now outdated.”

The city declared on Thursday that it will get a $348 million loan from the state revolving fund. Funds enabled by the federal Infrastructure Law. With the money, it will also be able to collect biogas during the waste treatment process, which will eventually turn it into renewable natural gas.

“The wastewater will be treated using a different process, just like it has been done in the past,” he stated.

According to Bruno Pigott, Acting Assistant Administrator of the EPA, communities need to draw in new enterprises by making improvements similar to the ones the city is planning. Similar to the two multimillion-dollar data centers, the city is providing incentives for building next to the airport. Both, according to Hesemann, would require a substantial amount of water from the city but wouldn’t burden the water infrastructure.

“If communities are to develop, flourish, be lively, and create jobs,” he stated. “Wastewater infrastructure must sufficiently treat the material so that people, businesses, and play areas can use it for drinking, recreation, and play.”

According to Hesemann, the modifications won’t be completed until at least early 2029, but they do want to start construction in November. People shouldn’t notice a significant difference, though.

Hesemann stated, “They shouldn’t notice any change.”

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