Western Wisconsin Municipalities Receive Clean Water Funding

A number of Western Wisconsin municipalities are among the 82 to receive a portion of $484 million through the Clean Water Fund Program.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced the funding on Thursday. According to a press release, the grant program is meant to help those municipalities, particularly small and disadvantaged communities, improve their wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The goal is to reduce contamination in the drinking water supply from things like phosphorus and PFAS, as well as to replace aging equipment.

The Arkansaw Sanitary District #1 in Pepin County was highlighted as one of the Western Wisconsin organizations to receive a significant funding award. The district serves over 300 people in the Town of Waterville, and will receive nearly $3.4 million.

That funding will go towards the construction of a new lift station and force main to convey wastewater to an existing treatment plant in the Village of Durand. Of the nearly $3.4 million, nearly $2.4 million will come as principal loan forgiveness. The remainder will come as a loan with a subsidized interest rate.

Among other Western Wisconsin projects, the Village of Hammond and Village of Woodville in St. Croix County will receive funding for Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades. A number of other municipalities will also receive funding for sanitary sewer replacement projects, including the Village of Boyd and City of Stanley in Chippewa County, The City of Rice Lake in Barron County, and the Village of Plum City in Pierce County.

The City of Portage also received the largest funding award of over $55 million for significant wastewater treatment plant upgrades.