Virginia Receives National Award for Water Quality Improvement Fund
December 2007 -- The Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) were recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for excellent work in the area of water quality protection with a Performance and Innovation in the SRF (Clean Water States Revolving Fund) Creating Environmental Success, or PISCES, award.
The award was granted for Virginia's creation of a fund that will provide $250 million per year over the next five years aimed specifically at improving water quality in Virginia's portion of the Bay watershed. The money will be leveraged by taking limited funds in a reserve account and selling bonds using those funds as security. Recognition was also given to Virginia's efforts to provide low-interest loans to farmers so that they can implement best-management practices on their farms that will directly impact water quality.
One PISCES Award was given in each of the 10 EPA regions across the country. VRA and DEQ received the top honor in Region 3 which includes Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In order to be considered, projects had to demonstrate leadership and innovation in one of the following criteria: (1) financing, (2) project implementation, (3) partnerships or (4) sustainable infrastructure.
The Clean Water States Revolving Fund, or CWSRF, is a powerful partnership between EPA and the states. It allows states the flexibility to provide funding for projects that will address their highest-priority water quality needs. While traditionally used to build or improve wastewater treatment plants, loans are also used increasingly for:
- Agricultural, rural and urban runoff control.
- Estuary improvement projects.
- Wet weather flow control, including:
- Stormwater and sewer overflows.
- Alternative treatment technologies.
- Water reuse and conservation projects.
Together with its partners, the EPA continually seeks ways to improve the program so that its resources will effectively address the nation's highest-priority water quality issues.