WARWICK – The Warwick Sewer Authority and it partners celebrated the completion of its facility treatment upgrades Thursday.
The event heralded the successful completion of $20 million in improvements to the city’s treatment facility, a project spurred by the March 2010 flood that caused a reported $14 million in damage.
Beyond Cash Donations: How New Forms of Giving Are Transforming Not-for-Profit Accounting
Evolving Funding Landscape for Not-for-Profits Not-for-profit organizations are being asked to do more with less,…
Learn More
Among those at the ceremony were Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and Authority Chairman Peter Ginaitt, U.S. Sens. Jack F. Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and FEMA Region 1 Acting Administrator Paul Ford.
The upgrades included improvements to the levee surrounding the facility, including a 5-foot increase in its height, and a new phosphorus improvement building. The levee is now designed to protect the facility from 500-year storms such as the 2010 flood.
FEMA approved $3.6 million to the levee improvements and provided 90 percent reimbursement for disaster-related expenses.
The remainder of the funds came from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank in the form of low-interest loans under the State Revolving Fund.
“This is a significant day for the sewer authority,” said Avedisian in a statement. “The flood protection measures address past vulnerabilities at the facility and ensure that our residents and businesses are protected should another natural disaster occur. The new phosphorous treatment process is great for the environment, particularly the Pawtuxet River. I thank our congressional delegation for securing the levee funding and all who have worked so patiently with the authority on both of these issues.”
