The Texas Water Development Board has approved funding for Arlington Water Utilities that will save residents about $1.5 million on vital equipment updates at the City's water treatment plants.
At its meeting Thursday, the board selected Arlington to receive about $11.9 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The money will fund electrical system improvements at the John F. Kubala Treatment Plant, which was built in 1989. The savings come from:
- A $450,777 portion is a forgivable loan. The project qualifies for the forgivable loan, also known as a Green Project grant, because the improvements will make the Kubala plant more energy efficient, reducing electricity use by about 20 percent. Arlington is making similar improvements at its Pierce Burch Treatment Plant.
- The remaining $11,445,000 in funding is a low interest loan. The TWDB estimates that the lower interest on the loan will save Arlington about $1,076,504 over the 20-year term of the loan.
This week's announcement is the second time in 2017 that the TWDB has selected Arlington to receive funding. Earlier this year, the board awarded Arlington a $5.6 million loan for the replacement of aging sanitary sewer mains. That award included an $826,861 forgivable loan. The remaining $4,775,000 will be financed at a rate of about 0.88 percent, saving about $777,131 over the 20-year term.
"Arlington's water treatment plants produce billions of gallons of drinking water annually for residents, businesses and visitors to the city. Improving the function of those facilities will benefit our community for years to come. We are thankful the Texas Water Development Board continues to provide Arlington with avenues to address these needs at significantly lower costs than conventional options," said Buzz Pishkur, director of Arlington Water Utilities.
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