WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Representative John Carney today announced a total of $2,838,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to help Kent County make beneficial upgrades to its wastewater treatment system. The Rural Development loan will fund aeration system improvements that save energy and protect water quality in the Murderkill River Watershed.
"This loan, which will be used to improve wastewater treatment, is vital to health, safety and the environment in Kent County," Senator Carper said. "Investment in these types of projects help protect the health of families up and down the First State, improve our environment, and expand communities’ economic opportunities – something I like to call a win-win-win."
“Effective wastewater treatment is critical to the health of our communities and natural resources in Delaware,” Senator Coons said. “The Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility continues to be a leading service provider, recognized regionally and nationally for its operations excellence, innovative programming, and environmental stewardship. This important USDA funding will allow KCRWTF to further enhance the quality and efficiency of its treatment system, while reducing pollution in the surrounding Murderkill River Watershed.”
“This USDA loan is welcome news for Kent County,” said Congressman Carney. “As a result of the improvements to the county’s wastewater treatment facility, the Murderkill River Watershed will be cleaner, and Kent County will see important savings on its energy costs. I’m looking forward to the project getting underway and seeing the benefits it brings to this part of our state.”
The loan will allow the Kent County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to upgrade its aeration system, which removes nutrients from wastewater that is treated and then discharged into a tributary of the Murderkill River. Planned improvements will increase the system’s energy efficiency and reduce nutrient loading, an overaccumulation of nutrients that degrades water quality and habitat, in the Murderkill River Watershed.
The project also received an $11,442,000 USDA loan and a $6,918,700 Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Clean Water Advisory Council Loan in 2010.
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