The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has allocated $414.4 million through the Clean Water Fund Program to 84 municipalities to improve their wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

The funding will help municipalities across the state construct needed water infrastructure, including projects that reduce phosphorus discharges and address ageing equipment, with a focus on small and disadvantaged communities.

The $414.4 million in total financial assistance allocated is a record amount for the programme. The DNR is allocating $358.3 million in subsidised, reduced-interest-rate loan funding and $56.1 million in principal forgiveness.

The 2024 Clean Water Fund Program Funding List represents the second year of Supplemental Wastewater Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.

Examples of projects receiving funding include:

• The city of Superior is receiving $3,767,373 in funding, including $1,130,212 of general principal forgiveness, with the remainder through a loan with a reduced interest rate. This funding will be used to reduce excessive flow to the wastewater treatment plant in times of wet weather, as well as reduce flooding. Stormwater will be routed to a best management practice for treatment to improve water quality.The funding will be awarded to municipalities in the coming months and disbursed as eligible costs are incurred.
• The village of Denmark is receiving $5 million in funding, including $1 million of phosphorus reduction priority principal forgiveness and $832,500 of general principal forgiveness, with the remainder through a loan with a reduced interest rate. Denmark will use the funding to construct a tertiary treatment process to reduce phosphorus concentrations in the effluent from the village’s wastewater treatment plant.
• The village of Soldiers Grove is receiving $386,000 in funding, including $215,774 of general principal forgiveness and $54,040 of phosphorus reduction priority principal forgiveness, with the remainder through a loan with a reduced interest rate. This funding will be used to reduce concentrations of phosphorus in the effluent from the village’s wastewater treatment plant, as well as to replace and upgrade ageing equipment.

The Clean Water Fund Program provides affordable financial assistance to municipalities throughout Wisconsin for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations.

“Helping communities replace and modernise ageing systems to ensure they meet federal and state regulations is a critical part of our work to ensure every Wisconsinite has healthy, safe, and clean drinking water from their tap,” said Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin. “These dollars will help communities ensure they have the infrastructure their residents can trust to address wastewater and stormwater and be even better prepared to handle any future challenges that may arise.”