The Iowa Finance Authority announced $9 million in grant awards on Thursday January 26. Funding made available through Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the recent legislation allowing the funding and the program made awards available to 23 communities to advance water quality infrastructure. The specific program is the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program.
The short notice funding opportunity received 60 applications with more that $24 million in requests. “A committee consisting designees from Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the submitted applications based on the program’s priorities. Priorities include Disadvantaged communities; Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed; Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies; Communities with the highest sewer or water rates; Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction; and projects to address improvements to drinking water source waters.
Funding for this program comes from a portion of the tax paid on metered water.
Primghar has been developing increased sewer lagoon capacity for more than 2 years. Three designs and technology choices were presented and questioned. Council ultimately decided to improve the aeration system, polishers and disinfection step, and make it expandable without building an additional cell. The water treatment plan was approved September 2022. This plan also allows the city to meet new regulations and guidelines coming.
The increased capacity is measured in two ways: BOD or biological oxygen demand (organic pollution in the water) or flow rate. The current permitted capacity of flow for Primghar is 122,400 gallons per day. The upgrades will increase that flow to 517,000 gpd.
The BOD current permitted capacity is 163 pounds per day. After the upgrades the new capacity will reach 760 pounds per day.
Primghar’s water rates were increased 2 years ago, to help fund this project. The cost of this project is $6,721,000. This grant awards $500,000 to the city to help reduce the debt financing that may be required to pay for it. Other funding sources, including low-interest loans, are being considered. Bidding begins in April or May with contracts being let in June. Construction start is possibly in the fall.
City Clerk Carol Chicoine said, “This is something that will benefit the community and make it affordable.”