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EPA Awards $420,000 To New Hampshire for Drinking Water Security; Includes $115,000 to City of Manchester

Release Date: 10/01/2002
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1014

MANCHESTER, NH. – Flanked by state and local officials on the banks of Lake Massabesic, Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s New England Office, today awarded $306,100 to the state of New Hampshire and $114,924 to the Manchester Water Works for improving drinking water security.

The $306,1000 to the N.H. Department of Environmental Services (DES) will provide grants to small and medium drinking water systems -- those serving 3,300 to 100,000 people -- and will also pay for mock emergencies that would let small systems and local emergency officials prepare for emergencies, including terrorist attacks.

Manchester’s grant will be used to assess the vulnerability of the drinking water system to attack or other emergencies. Recent federal legislation -- the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 -- requires utilities to assess their vulnerabilities and prepare emergency response plans.

“Safe drinking water is vital to all New Hampshire residents,” Varney said during a press conference at the Manchester Water Treatment Plant. “This grant will help Manchester examine its system to ensure that tap water is clean and safe.”

“We're very pleased to partner with EPA in this important initiative to protect not only the water supply of Manchester, but of the region as well,” said Manchester Mayor Robert Baines.

“The N.H. Department of Environmental Services has worked closely with New England EPA to alert water systems around the state of how vitally important it is for them to determine where they are vulnerable and how they may minimize the risks and enhance security,” said Harry Stewart, director of the water division at DES. “These federal grants will go a long way in helping achieve those goals.”

“The grant funds will be used to improve and expand on the security measures that the water works put into place immediately following 9/11 and those nearly completed at our treatment plant and a number of remote facilities,” said Thomas Bowen, director of the Manchester Water Works. “The funds will assist us in updating our Emergency Operations Plan to include, unfortunately, acts of terrorism and finally provide technical support for the design of the recommended improvements.”

In the wake of Sept. 11, EPA has been working closely with states and utilities to improve drinking water security. In addition to grants for preparedness planning like those announced today, EPA has trained more than 1,500 operators at 18 workshops across the region.

Today's grant to the Manchester Water Works is among $53 million EPA is awarding nationwide for drinking water security at large systems. EPA is also awarding $5 million nationwide to states to enhance state water security coordination, and about $17 million to states to train and assist small- and medium-sized systems with drinking water security.

The Manchester Water Works serves a regional population of 140,000, including the city of Manchester and the towns of Derry and Hooksett. The system has an average daily consumption of 17 million gallons per day.