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EPA awards $2.9 million grant to Grafton to upgrade wastewater treatment system

Release Date: 9/22/2004
Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

Contact: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $2.9 million grant to the city of Grafton, Taylor County, W. Va. to help pay for the upgrade and expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant in order to prevent sewage overflows during wet weather.

“Old, inadequate wastewater treatment and collection systems are a major cause of water pollution, and this grant will help to improve water quality and protect public health in Grafton, West Virginia,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

Grafton’s existing collection system consists of combined sewers which transport sanitary and storm water. During wet weather, the system can not handle the increased volume of water, which causes raw sewage to be discharged into the Tygart Valley River. These overflows are known as combined sewage overflows.

In addition, the sewage treatment plant is not meeting the flow limitations required under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The city is under a consent order from West Virginia DEP to reduce and eventually eliminate all combined sewage overflows. The upgrade project will reduce the overflows in the system during wet weather and bring the treatment plant back into compliance with its permit. Also, the project will help restore water quality in the Tygart Valley River.

The grant will pay 55 percent of the estimated $5,285,350 project cost and the city will use local funds and other grants for the balance.