Morton announces $2.9 million grant to Airway Heights for wastewater project

December 23, 2008

Olympia…Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, recently received word from the Department of Ecology that Airway Heights has been awarded a grant for the first phase of construction of a new wastewater treatment, reclamation and groundwater recharge facility. 

The grant of $2,923,104 for phase one of the project is from the Centennial Clean Water Fund, a dedicated state-funding source for improving and protecting water quality in our state. The centennial fund is one of the water quality funding programs managed by Ecology.  

Phase one has also received a $7 million loan from the state’s Public Works Trust Fund, and the city has dedicated $1 million in capital program matching funds toward phase one. Construction is expected to begin in April 2009. 

In 2003, the city recognized that its West Plains facility was reaching capacity and began planning the new project. The project will eliminate the city’s wastewater discharge to the Spokane River to help improve water quality; provide a new water source for the West Plains communities; and improve groundwater by reducing nitrates. 

“We are about halfway there with phase one,” Morton said, “but we still need about $33 million to complete the project. My hope is to win a $30 million loan from Ecology. We need this loan to keep local sewer rates at acceptable levels.” 

Morton has been in contact with Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp who has asked him to take the lead on winning phase two funding. 

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov