CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch and Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas Burack today urged local communities looking to upgrade drinking water or wastewater systems to apply for federal stimulus funding through state Department of Environmental Services.

“Local communities should be in contact with the Department of Environmental Services about their drinking water and wastewater system needs, so that the state can direct federal stimulus funds to create jobs and improve our state’s infrastructure and environment for the long term,” Gov. Lynch said.

DES has been working with local communities to identify projects that fall within the scope of the federal stimulus law. The department will continue accepting pre-applications from communities through Feb. 27.

Early estimates are the stimulus law will provide New Hampshire with $39 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program for grants or loans for municipal wastewater system upgrades, and $19 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program for drinking water system upgrades.

For more information related to potential environmental, water, wastewater, or stormwater infrastructure funding that may be a part of any stimulus package, go to http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/stimulus.htm.