EPA Recognizes Excellence and Innovation in Minnesota Water Infrastructure Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Jessica Kramer recently recognized 48 water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation, including a new reverse osmosis water treatment plant for nitrite in Westbrook, Minnesota. This award demonstrates the importance of water infrastructure for supporting healthy Americans and laying a foundation for economic prosperity.
"The City Westbrook’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for its community is truly exemplary," said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. "By tackling this complex issue and serving as a model for rural communities battling nitrate, the city is setting a high standard for others to follow. This recognition reflects the dedication and collaboration of the city and its partners to deliver measurable benefits and resilient water infrastructure."
EPA’s AQUARIUS program celebrates drinking water projects financed in part by the drinking water state revolving funds (DWSRF), which are innovative, resilient, and protect public health. In Minnesota, the city of Westbrook received an award for Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection.
The City of Westbrook, a small community of about 785 residents, twice exceeded the Safe Drinking Water Act maximum contaminant level for nitrite in 2022. The city planned a new reverse osmosis water treatment plant to prevent future MCL exceedances and protect public health. The priority was immediate risk reduction for infants and other vulnerable residents.
The city secured a $5.22 million DWSRF, a $913,000 Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities grant, and a $1.52 million State Affordability Grant to build the new water treatment plant and supply well. Since the facility came online, nitrite levels have remained consistently below the MCL, addressing previous exceedances and restoring a reliable safe drinking water supply. The combination of reverse osmosis and corrosion control has improved overall water quality, protecting the health of residents, reduced the likelihood of taste and discoloration complaints, and strengthened long term system resilience.
See the full list of recognized projects and learn more about the AQUARIUS and PISCES programs.
Background
The clean water state revolving fund and drinking water state revolving fund programs have provided a foundation of federal investment in water infrastructure for decades. The SRF programs directly support EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which emphasizes the need for clean air, land, and water for every American and the importance of cooperative federalism.
The SRF programs are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. The SRFs have provided over $265 billion in financial assistance to more than 50,000 water quality infrastructure projects and 76,000 drinking water projects across the country.