Gresham, Oregon, is laying down new infrastructure that promises more stability, and equitable water service for its residents. Drawing from the deep pockets of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both the City of Gresham, and the Rockwood Water People’s Utility District (RWPUD) received a generous $1.5 million in federal grants to support the expansion of the local Cascade Groundwater System. "We’re using this funding to help expand our local groundwater system and provide a high-quality, resilient drinking water source for the people we serve in East Multnomah County," Mike Whiteley, Water Division Manager for the City of Gresham, told the Gresham City News.
Funding for these grants, as well as additional fiscal support for the project, comes courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency via Business Oregon, and The Oregon Health Authority’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. This financial influx will be utilized, by both the City of Gresham and Rockwood Water PUD for the procurement, and installation of Manganese Water Filtration systems. To sweeten the deal, the involved partners are mixing in other financing options like the federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans, setting the stage for a project that's both visionary and financially viable.
Rockwood Water PUD has already secured a $30.4 million WIFIA loan and is currently in pursuit of additional funding. Meanwhile, Gresham has bagged a WIFIA loan amounting to $34 million. With these financial instruments geared towards providing long-term rate stability – the Boulder infrastructure advances carry the promise of consistent, high-quality water provision to over 138,000 residents in the East Multnomah County area. "We’re grateful for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants. They help Gresham and Rockwood come together for the local community and make historic, long-term investments to ensure we have a resilient, affordable, and consistently high-quality water supply well into the future," Kari Duncan, General Manager of Rockwood Water People's Utility District, said, as per Gresham City News.
