SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The state of Utah is getting funding from the Environmental Protection Agency.
With $80 million available nationally, Utah will be getting $664,000 of that to protect our water resources.
Specifically, that money will be given to the state to keep water protected from sewage overflows. That money is aimed at strengthening systems that manage stormwater and prevent contaminants from polluting waterways.
“Stormwater and sewage systems are critical for managing pollution to keep our nation’s waterways clean and support healthy people, economic growth, and thriving ecosystems,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer in a press release. “This $80 million investment will help states upgrade stormwater management systems to address the threat of aging and inadequate infrastructure.”
According to the EPA, the goal is to prioritize projects in small and financially distressed communities. However, the state isn’t required to distribute funds to those communities and has a say in where those funds go exactly.
“These sewer overflow grants demonstrate EPA’s commitment to protecting water quality for all Americans, including small communities that face unique infrastructure challenges,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western in a press release. “In our mountain and plains region, many communities are rural. This funding is a big win, helping modernize local systems, prevent overflows and keep rivers and streams clean.”
Just last year, the EPA gave a $110,000,000 dollar loan to the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District to help provide reliable drinking water to over 20 percent of Utah’s population.
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