The Environmental Protection Agency has tapped Baltimore as a possible recipient of a federal $200 million loan to help upgrade the city’s infrastructure to stop sewage from chronically spilling into waterways.
The money would be used to improve the city’s wastewater collection and treatment and stormwater management systems, actions that are required under a $1.2 billion consent decree. A dozen projects in nine states were invited to apply for more than $2 billion in loans through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.
Rudolph S. Chow, director of the city’s Department of Public Works, said applying for the federal money could help “alleviate the burden placed on our local ratepayers.” Water customers in Baltimore saw a 9 percent rate increase go into effect on July 1, raising the monthly bill for a typical home by about $7. The price of water will have doubled in the city over eight years when a final planned rate increase takes effect next summer.
“Our application covers important construction projects in Baltimore’s water, sewer, and stormwater utilities, and helps us carry out our mission to support the health, environment, and economy of our city and the region,” Chow said in a statement.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Yvonne Wenger over at the Baltimore Sun