Indiana Rural Water Association

Getting the Funding Agencies to Work Together

Town of Newport New Wastewater Utility

Presented byTracy Boehmer, P.E.

Project History

Town of Newport

• Population: 550• Vermillion County Seat

Project History

Last Unsewered County Seat in State of Indiana

Issues with Documented E.coli in Open Waterways

Results - A Requirement by County Sanitarian to Address Threat to Human Health and the Environment

Town of Newport

Project History

Town of Newport – PER Completed in 2010 USDA Rural Development Pre-Development

Planning Grant Vermillion County Sewer Feasibility Study utilized

for Town cost savings PER identified a $5,950,000 project cost Town – HOW DO WE PAY FOR THIS?

Common Funding Sources

1. Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA)

2. State Revolving Fund (SRF)

3. USDA Rural Development (RD)

Town of Newport - Funding

First project in State of Indiana to Utilize SRF, USDA, and OCRA Funding

to Achieve 75% Grant 25% Loan (minimizing rates)

RD Grant $3,450,000.00RD Loan $1,375,000.00SRF Loan(forgiveness – so, essentially a grant) $600,000.00

OCRA Grant $500,000.00

Planning Challenges and Setbacks

RD and SRF have different requirements for PERsHad to convert RD PER to SRF (essentially entirely

new report)WWTP site change – 3 timesRequired PER and environmental changes to both

PERs each timeFinal PERs Completed in 2012

Design Challenges and Setbacks

OCRA requires all funding and easements to be in place before application is due

Scramble for easements!Town was able to secure a 0% loan from Vermillion

County Economic Development for Design

Final Design and Constructi onCollection System

100% low pressure sewer

207 grinder pumps – maintained by Town of Newport

Minimal impact to Town during construction

26,000 LF of pressure main was installed via trenchless methods (directional drilling)

Service for 240 homes and 32 commercial properties

Construction July 2013 – August 2014 (substantial completion)

Final Design and Constructi on

Final Design and Constructi onWastewater Treatment Plant

• 47,000 GPD average (149,000 GPD Peak) extended aeration package plant

• Flows based on historical water usage

• UV disinfection

• Five blowers for aeration to flow equalization tank, aeration tanks, and digester

• Discharge to Little Vermillion River

• Lab building and fully functional lab (all testing can be done in house)

• Sludge is taken to Terre Haute WWTP for disposal

• Construction July 2013 – August 2014 (Substantial Completion)

Lesson Learned Project forced a dialogue between all three (3)

funding agencies SRF and RD have started to accept PERs that were

first completed in one agency format, resulting in cost savings for communities

Planning, coordination and communication is KEY!