Growing Greener Grants

Posted by on September 5, 2003

DEP Offers Grants for Innovative Water, Wastewater Technology.

DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty on Aug. 25 announced the opening of a $4 million grant program through Growing Greener that will help counties, municipalities, municipal authorities and public school districts finance improvements to their existing sewage facilities and drinking water systems using innovative or new water and wastewater technology.

“Making improvements that enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of these systems can have measurable impacts on pollution prevention, water conservation and energy reductions,” Secretary McGinty said.

“Not only will these grants help to improve Pennsylvania’s water and wastewater facilities, but they also w ill enable applicants to take advantage of the latest technology that supports economic development and opens news markets for innovation in infrastructure maintenance and environmental protection.”

Secretary McGinty made the announcement at the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association’s 61st annual conference in Hershey. New or innovative technology refers to technology that is commercially available but not yet widely used in Pennsylvania. New or innovative technology should provide one or more significant advantages over conventional technology. Preference will be given to the following new or innovative projects: treatment of groundwater under the direct influence of surface water; holistic approaches to treatment of drinking water for nitrates and other mobile contaminants to ensure public safety; treatment of municipal wastewater for beneficial reuse; innovative construction methods and materials to correct infiltration and inflow problems in sanitary and combined sewer collection/conveyance systems; and advance wastewater treatment for nutrient removal in watersheds where nutrient removal has been identified by DEP as a priority. The deadline for submitting grant applications to the DEP Growing Greener Grants Center is Oct. 17.

Applicants must own the existing treatment facilities. The grant application form is available electronically on DEP’s Website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/eps/
Select “Forms” and “Water Supply and Wastewater Management.” The form
name and number are: Application for Growing Greener Grant Assistance-New or Innovative Water/Wastewater Technology, 3800-FM-WSWM0271. 8/29/2003