EPA announces $348 million low-interest loan to improve wastewater infrastructure

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced financial support for Cedar Rapids to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility.

This facility treats everything that city residents throw down the drain, in addition to industrial waste. The city says it processes 25 million gallons of wastewater per day, of which 20 million comes from industry, the rest comes from the residential sector.

The water pollution control facility treats water for Cedar Rapids and surrounding cities and is 44 years old. Public Services Director Roy Hesemann said it’s a building that needs upgrading.

“It actually eliminates some of the older, less efficient, cutting-edge technologies that are now obsolete,” Hesemann said.

On Thursday, the city announced it was getting a $348 million state loan. Money made possible by the federal infrastructure law. The money will also allow it to capture biogas during waste processing to ultimately become renewable natural gas.

“Wastewater will be treated as in the past, but with a different process,” he said.

EPA Acting Deputy Administrator Bruno Pigott said improvements like those the city plans to make are necessary to attract new businesses to cities. Much like the two multi-million dollar data centers, the city is encouraging construction near the airport. Hesemann said both would use a significant amount of city water but would not strain the city’s water system.

“If communities want to develop, grow, be vibrant and provide jobs,” he said. “You need to have wastewater infrastructure that adequately treats substances so people can drink water there, play water there, and have fun, and businesses can use it.” »

Hesemann said they plan to begin improvements in November, but the upgrades will take until at least early 2029. However, people shouldn’t notice much change.

“They shouldn’t notice any changes,” Hesemann said.