N.H. awards $7.9M to water, wastewater, stormwater projects

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) has announced funding for multiple projects, in a combination of grant and loan funds, for drinking water and wastewater system improvements totaling more than $7.95 million.

NHDES provided the funding through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund (DWGT), the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). More information about the projects that have recently been approved is below:

• City of Portsmouth: Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements - $450,000 ARPA Grant; $1,500,000 CWSRF Loan
  ARPA Grant: $450,000
  CWSRF Loan: $1,500,000
  Total Project Cost: $1,950,000
  The city will use the funding for the designing of upgrades to increase the capacity of their wastewater treatment facility. 

• Town of Pembroke: Stormwater Assessment and Improvements - $100,000 ARPA Grant
  The town will use the funding to evaluate and develop feasible options to address failing stormwater infrastructure and to conduct additional condition assessments. 

• Town Line Village Cooperative, Inc, Holderness: Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
  ARPA Grant: $1,938,800
  DWGT Grant: $25,000
  DWGT Loan: $25,000
  Total Project Cost: $1,988,800
  The funds will be used for drinking water and wastewater improvements.

• Copple Crown Village District, New Durham: Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements
  ARPA Grant: $134,800
  DWSRF Loan: $265,200
  Total Project Cost: $400,000
  The funds will be used to implement overall water system repairs and improvements. 

• Town of Rye: Bacteria Sampling - $100,000 ARPA Grant
  The town will use the funding to sample for bacteria in streams. Sample results will be used to determine pathogen pollution sources to fresh water and tidal Parsons Creek in Rye. The town’s septic system database will be updated and a septic system vulnerability map and database with information on susceptible septic tanks will be migrated to Rye’s online mapping and information system.

• Winnipesaukee River Basin, Franklin: Energy Audit Measures Implementation - $189,100 ARPA Grant
  The funds will be used to make improvements to the aeration process at the Franklin Wastewater Treatment Facility as recommended in the 2019 Energy Evaluation completed by Process Energy Services. 

• Town of Jaffrey: Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
  ARPA Grant: $390,000
  CWSRF Loan: $910,000
  Total Project Cost: $1,300,000
  The funds will be used to make improvements to the sewer on Stratton Road to address inflow and infiltration.

• Town of Milford: Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
  ARPA Grant: $117,000
  CWSRF Loan: $273,000
  Total Project Cost: $390,000

Drinking Water Asset Management

The grant funding will be used to develop, improve or implement asset management programs for drinking water systems. Asset management has become the foundation for sustainable water systems as it provides a holistic picture for how to conduct their business in a more effective and efficient method:

• Lower Bartlett Water Precinct: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• Woodsville Water and Light: $65,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Hudson: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Hancock: $70,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of New Castle: $62,800 ARPA Grant
• Town of Lancaster: $80,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Pembroke: $63,200 ARPA Grant
• Town of Milford: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Gorham: $71,600 ARPA Grant
• Town of Plaistow: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• City of Rochester: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• North Conway Water Precinct: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Hillsborough: $75,000 ARPA Grant
• Carroll County: $60,000 ARPA Grant
• Rye Water District: $100,000 ARPA Grant
• Grasmere Village Water Precinct, Goffstown: $50,000 ARPA Grant

Wastewater Asset Management

The grant funding will be used to develop an asset management program to be used as a complete community-specific decision-making tool for wastewater collection systems and/or pump stations:

• Town of Belmont: $30,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Milford: $30,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Hampton: $60,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Gorham: $30,000 ARPA Grant
• Town of Lisbon: $30,000 ARPA Grant

Stormwater Asset Management

The grant funding will be used to develop an asset management program to be used as a complete community specific decision-making tool for stormwater systems:

• Town of Alton: $30,000 ARPA Grant
• Emerald Lake Village District, Hillsborough: $30,000 ARPA Grant