the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 30 clean water and 25 drinking water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs. These exemplary projects showcase water quality improvements and public health protections that can be achieved when the federal government, states, municipalities and local utilities work together.

“The State Revolving Fund programs play a critical role in helping communities modernize aging infrastructure, create jobs, and protect public health and the environment,” said David Ross, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “These projects are making vital water quality improvements in communities across the country.”

The State Revolving Funds (SRF) are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. EPA’s SRFs have provided more than $170 billion in financial assistance to over 39,900 water quality infrastructure projects and 14,500 drinking water projects across the country. This year’s honored projects include large wastewater infrastructure upgrades, community driven green infrastructure development and the construction of new water treatment plants. Several projects also include lead service line replacement, furthering EPA’s goals to protect human health under the Federal Lead Action Plan. All of these projects highlight outstanding achievements in water quality improvement that benefit Americans from coast to coast.

EPA’s Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programs and assistance recipients. Each participating program nominated an innovative project that improved water quality, provided public health or economic benefits; and/or encouraged sustainability in the marketplace. Thirty projects by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the 2019 PISCES program, including the following exceptional projects:

PISCES Exceptional Projects

• Arizona: Town of Marana – Adonis Sewer Connection
• Idaho: Boise Public School District – Lead Remediation
• Indiana: Indianapolis Airport Authority – Stormwater and Deicing Project
• Kansas: Westwood Hills – Storm Sewer Restoration and Repair
• New Hampshire: Town of Newmarket – Wastewater Facility Upgrades
• New Jersey: Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority – Green Infrastructure
• New Mexico: The Town of Peralta – Regional Sanitary Sewer Project
• North Carolina: Raleigh Public Utilities Department – Bioenergy Recovery
• Pennsylvania: Lyme Emporium Highlands II LLC – Sterling Run Conservation and Restoration
• South Carolina: City of Florence adopts the Town of Timmonsville’s Wastewater System
• South Dakota: City of Dell Rapids – New Wastewater Treatment Facility
• Virginia: Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission – Living Shorelines Resiliency Loan Program
• Wisconsin: Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District – Pumping Station Rehabilitation

To see the full list of 2019 PISCES recognized projects visit the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/pisces.

EPA’s inaugural AQUARIUS program recognition celebrates innovation, sustainability, and public health protection demonstrated by DWSRF programs and assistance recipients. Each participating state program nominated one project for this first-ever recognition. Nominated projects all had to complete construction within the last two years, and be compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act, along with providing financial integrity and public health benefits. Twenty-five projects by state or local governments and drinking water utilities were recognized by the 2019 AQUARIUS program, including the following exceptional projects:

AQUARIUS Exceptional Projects

• California: Valley Center Municipal Water District – Cool Valley Reservoir Cover/Liner Replacement
• Connecticut: Woodland Summit Community Water Association – Water System Improvements
• Kansas: Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 27 – New Regional PWS System in Brown County
• Kentucky: Danville – Water Treatment Plant and Raw Water Improvements
• Louisiana: St. Bernard Parish Waterworks – Waterline Replacement Project (Loan 1)
• Maryland: Allegany County – Prince Albert and Sunnyside Water Extension
• New Jersey: Long Beach Township – Pump Station Reconstruction
• South Dakota: Rapid City – East Rapid City Water Expansion
• Washington: Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District – Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District and Eastside Liberty Lake Consolidation
• Wisconsin: Ashland – Private Lead Service Line Replacement (Year 1)

As families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving and the holiday season with traditional meals, the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) reminds everyone to put FOG – fats, oils and grease – from holiday cooking in the trash to avoid clogged drain. To underscore this message, EWSU is launching a public service campaign to raise awareness about the importance of keeping FOG from damaging pipes in homes and our city’s sewer system.

People often don’t realize that every drop of fat, oil or grease that does down the drain will end up in the sewer line. As FOG collects in sewers it can form large clogs that can damage pipes and cause sewage to back up into homes, eventually reaching local streams and wetlands.

The EWSU FOG billboards and video public service announcements encourage everyone to “Cool It. Can It. Throw it Away. Put FOG in the trash, not the sink!” Fifteen billboards with the FOG holiday message are located on high traffic thoroughfare across the city. The FOG videos, featuring EWSU Director Allen Mounts, are available online offering simple tips on things you can do at home to eliminate FOG.

Click here to access the EWSU Videos YouTube Channel. Click here to watch the 30 second FOG video. Click here to watch the 60 second FOG video. Click here to watch the 2 minute 28 second FOG video.