San Mateo, CA awarded $85M WIFIA loan

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an $85 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of San Mateo, Calif., for a project that will reduce sewer overflows. Today’s announcement complements a separate WIFIA loan of $210 million announced in November 2020 for upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Together, these WIFIA-financed projects will improve water quality in the San Francisco Bay and will help protect public health and the environment through better wastewater management.

“Through WIFIA, EPA is modernizing the nation’s water infrastructure in ways that improve public health and environmental protection while creating jobs and supporting local economies,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Repeat clients are a hallmark of any successful program, so we are proud to again partner with San Mateo to improve water quality in the San Francisco Bay.”

EPA’s WIFIA loan will help the City of San Mateo protect public health and water quality by increasing its capacity to manage wastewater during storms, alleviating sewer overflows and preventing discharges of partially treated water into the Bay. Specifically, San Mateo will improve its sanitary sewer collection system by replacing aging lift stations, sewer mains, and manholes and constructing a new wastewater flow equalization facility. The project is designed to meet regulatory requirements, eliminate waste discharges, and correct conditions that cause sanitary sewer overflows.