EPA Announces $18 Million WIFIA Loan to Helix Water District

  • by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Sep 19, 2022
  • Water News

WASHINGTON – Today, at an event in Southern California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an $18 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Helix Water District in San Diego County, California to support the Drinking Water Reliability Project. With EPA’s WIFIA loan, Helix Water District will increase the region’s drinking water resiliency by expanding water reuse opportunities and reducing reliance on imported water.

“Helix Water District’s project represents the future of water in the West,” said EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “EPA is proud to help finance these infrastructure upgrades that will increase water reuse and help secure reliable safe drinking water for generations to come.”

Helix Water District will modernize existing pump stations, conveyance infrastructure, and distribution pipelines as well as install an aeration system in Lake Jennings to meet state surface water requirements. By completing this project, Helix Water District will replace 30% of its water needs that are currently met by strained regional sources with an alternative source of purified water conveyed from the East County Advanced Water Purification project, which received a separate WIFIA loan. This project also supports California’s Title 22 “Pure Water” objective to increase use of recycled water by at least 2 million-acre-feet per year by 2030.

“In California, we are purifying recycled water and ocean water to replace the water that nature used to provide,” said Helix Water District Board President Kathleen Coates Hedberg. “The only way we can afford to keep rates as low as we can and develop these new projects is through collaboration – multiple agencies working together and securing capital from multiple funding sources. We are partnering with neighboring agencies to develop a new, drought-proof water supply and we are so pleased that the EPA selected our project for funding.”

As a result of the WIFIA program’s flexibility and competitive rates, Helix Water District will save approximately $3.2 million by financing with a WIFIA loan. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027 and construction and operation are estimated to create nearly 400 jobs.

For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia.

Background

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects.

The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs. With this WIFIA loan closing, EPA has announced 91 WIFIA loans that are providing over $15 billion in credit assistance to help finance over $33 billion for water infrastructure while creating approximately 101,000 jobs and saving ratepayers over $5 billion.

Earlier this spring, EPA announced the availability of $5.5 billion under the 2022 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability and an additional $1 billion under the State Infrastructure Financing Authority WIFIA (SWIFIA) program. Together, this newly available funding will support more than $13 billion in water infrastructure projects while creating more than 40,000 jobs. Visit the NOFA webpage for more information.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
2023 Summary of Appellate Cases

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Committee Meetings Resources

Resources for ACWA Committee Meetings held during ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo are available below.  Agriculture Committee Agenda Communications […]

Priority Issues Bulletin

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Regulatory Roundup

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Webinar – A Conversation on AI-Driven Communications for Water Agencies

ChatGPT and generative AI have caused quite a stir in the world of creatives and communicators this year. For some, […]

Joint Comment Letter on Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject:Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook Letter excerpt: The undersigned associations are grateful for this opportunity to […]

Comment Letter — Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter — Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Letter excerpt: […]

Webinar – Achieving Cr6 MCL Compliance: A Review of RCF Treatment Options

The State Water Resources Control Board has identified reduction-coagulation-filtration (RCF) as the best available technology for Cr6 removal based on […]

QuenchCA Fall 2023 Toolkit

ACWA has released new toolkit resources for the statewide public education campaign Quench California, and continues to offer partnership opportunities […]

Making Conservation a CA Way of Life Fact Sheet

ACWA’s Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet provides a summary of the State Water Board’s draft regulatory text […]

Draft Extended Arrearage Program Guidelines – Comment Letter

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject:Comment Letter – Draft Extended Arrearage Program Guidelines Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Request to Veto AB 249 (Holden)

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom Subject: AB 249 (Holden) – REQUEST FOR VETO Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Draft Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fund Expenditure Plan for the SADW Fund

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Draft Fiscal Year 2023-24 Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and […]

Federal Legislative Matrix

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Joint Comment Letter on Direct Potable Reuse Regulations

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Direct Potable Reuse Regulations (SBDDW-23-001) Letter excerpt: The increasing volatility of climate change across […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Local Water District Internship Program Boosts Career Prospects

ROWLAND HEIGHTS – Rowland Water District (RWD) representatives Allen Davidson, Elisabeth Mendez, and Dusty Moisio delivered highly informative presentations at […]

DWR Announces Initial State Water Project Allocation for 2024

Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast of 10 percent of […]

ACWA Presents Irvine Ranch Water District With 2023 Excellence in Communication Award

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today presented its Huell Howser Excellence in Communication Award to […]

ACWA Awards $10,000 Water Law & Policy Scholarship

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today announced the winner of its 2023 Stephen K. Hall […]

PWD Clearwell Water Tank Back Online After Baffle Curtains Removed

PALMDALE – The Palmdale Water District (PWD) 6-million-gallon clearwell has returned to service after nearly a month of baffle curtain […]

ACWA Presents 2023 Emissary Award to Edgar Dymally

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) on Nov. 29 presented its 18th annual Emissary Award to […]

Final Construction of the College Lake Water Supply Project Pipeline Starts in Early 2024

WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) is celebrating the completion of 4.5 miles of the 6-mile […]

MWDOC Collaborates with Chapman University on Sustainable Landscaping

Through participation in the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) Turf Removal Rebate Program, Chapman University (Chapman) recently transformed […]

Sacramento Regional Water Bank Governance Structure Document Now Available

The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is pleased to release a second foundational document for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank (Water […]

Zone 7 Receives Highest Bond Rating From S&P and Revised Outlook From Fitch

Two independent credit rating agencies have reviewed Zone 7 Water Agency’s current position in connection with the agency’s anticipated sale […]

James Gumpel Appointed General Manager of Vallecitos Water District

SAN MARCOS – At the November 15, 2023 board meeting, the Vallecitos Water District (VWD) Board of Directors voted unanimously […]

Mojave Water Agency Installs Final Weather Station

Apple Valley, CA — While it is uncertain whether the High Desert will receive any rain from the El Nino […]

MWDOC Sponsors OC Children’s Book Festival to Promote Environmental Literacy

In October, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) sponsored and participated in the 2023 annual Orange County Children’s […]

Westlands Achieves Ambitious Recharge Goal, Sets New Target

FRESNO – Westlands Water District (District) has met its ambitious goal of recharging 200,000 acre feet of groundwater and is […]

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Explores Top California Water Issues

INDIAN WELLS – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) 2023 Fall Conference & Expo Nov. 29-30 will draw local […]