CHICOPEE — As the city of Chicopee works to reduce nitrogen levels in the Connecticut River and create healthier waterways, the taxpayers will not have to worry about costs as much now that U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Malden) has announced a $2.8 million earmark to support the Chicopee Water Pollution Control Facility’s Nitrogen and Energy Optimization Project.
WPCF improvements were considered necessary after the city and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a consent decree in the 2000s regarding the city’s dumping of raw sewage into the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers. The disbursement of sewage occurs during inclement weather, with the aged pipes carrying sewage and stormwater causing overflow.
On March 20, Neal and Markey were joined by Chicopee Mayor John Vieau and members of the EPA to make the announcement.
The allocation was made possible through congressionally directed spending from the Department of the Interior. Neal and Markey included funding for this project in the fiscal year 2023 spending bill that was signed into law on Dec. 29, 2022.
In October 2022, the same group of individuals visited Chicopee to announce the city’s approved discharge permit with conditions that might have to cost the rate payers. “At that time, Chicopee was awarded a $4.5 million grant to help with phase one of the plan and to stay in compliance,” said Vieau.
Chicopee also received an additional $2.5 million from the EPA through the Long Island Estuary and matched congressionally directed spending funds with $713,000, bringing the total funding for this project to a little over $10 million. With the latest funds, the project will now move into phase 2.
With the new guidelines for nitrogen removal, Vieau said that staying in compliance has been a “concern” and “challenge.”
“We’re very thankful today to be on the receiving side of this earmark,” he shared.
Vieau noted that Neal, Markey and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) indicated that they would work on behalf of Chicopee and advocate for even more funding.
Every year, Neal said he makes civil society organizations in the Connecticut River a priority. The Connecticut River today is used for passive and active recreation, which Neal believes is because of the reach and role of the federal government.
With this nearly $3 million initiative that Markey and Neal put together, it brings the total number to $10 million — with the first $5 million being funded by EPA. Neal noted that the $10 million is a full partnership with the House/Senate and Joe Biden.
Markey explained that removing nitrogen from the water is important because it is a legacy. “It’s a legacy of the successes of Chicopee in the 19th and 20th century. And it’s also a legacy problem for this generation to now deal with.”
He continued, “Nitrogen is just a fancy way of saying waste — human and otherwise — that goes into the Connecticut River which creates dead spots … which then kills fish [and] kills plants.”
Markey said the young people of Chicopee want to see a better future and improved relationship with nature and the community. “That’s why these grants are so important. That’s why Congressman Neal and I fought so hard. It’s to make sure the money was in there for the coming generation,” he added.
Through this, the city can take immediate action to upgrade its WPCF and reduce nitrogen levels in the Connecticut River, while saving money. It will cut down the amount of nitrogen discharged into the Connecticut River and make the facility more energy efficient — lowering costs for the plant and the taxpayers of Chicopee.
“Cutting down nitrogen in the Connecticut River will benefit more than just our commonwealth,” said Markey.
The discharge permit that requires Chicopee to reduce the nitrogen discharged into the Connecticut and Chicopee Rivers needs to be reduced from an excess of 15,000 pounds per day to no more than 647 pounds per day. “It’s going to be a significant challenge and obviously these earmarks really come in handy,” said Vieau. “This requirement makes challenges for our treatment plant a necessity. This isn’t something we can turn a blind eye to.”
The total cost of repairs for the WPCF is around $65 million.
To achieve compliance, Chicopee has developed a three-phase approach. The first phase is estimated to cost about $4.5 million, however, cost increases for material and labor have occurred. Vieau extended his gratitude to Neal, Markey and Warren for securing this additional funding to pay the increased costs as part of phase 1 and 2.
Chicopee DPW Superintendent Elizabette Batista noted that the first two phases are smaller than the third phase. She said the city plans to begin working on receiving funding for the final phase soon.
Batista recognized the “significant removal” the city needs to accomplish.
She explained that the earmark will be utilized to cover the cost of one anoxic reactor, mixing equipment, gate baffle walls and associated site work. “That’s one of four reactors that we will need to complete two treatment trains for removal of the nitrogen. Once all three phases of the project are complete, we will then be able to meet those requirements and the reactors themselves — in combination — will probably remove anywhere from 600 to 800 pounds per day,” said Batista.
Deputy Regional Administrator of EPA Region 1 Karen McGuire recognized Neal, Markey and Warren for being strong supporters of clean water. “Thanks to President Biden and congress, historic investments are being made to ensure access to safe wastewater treatment and clean drinking water,” said McGuire.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Regional Director Mike Gorski noted that these are expensive infrastructure upgrades that need to be done but the work that Neal and Markey are doing is helpful.
State Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) extended his thanks to the federal delegation on behalf of the constituents for their “steadfast commitment to this community.” Gomez said he looks forward to working with them when it comes to fighting for climate justice and making sure Massachusetts stays on task.
State Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) offered his support for infrastructure projects. He referenced the Clean Water Act in the early 1970s, which was the last “major time” the water and sewer systems were invested in. “Investments at the federal level by the delegation helps us at the state level [to] reinvest in areas that have been long neglected,” Oliveira said.
On behalf of the rate and taxpayers in Chicopee, Vieau extended gratitude for this funding.
Regarding the timeline for completion, phases 1 and 2 are planned for 2025, with the entire project to be completed in 2029.