MADISON, Wis. (November 18, 2019) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), Madison, Wis., with a Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) award for the rehabilitation of Pumping Station 15, one of 30 clean water infrastructure projects honored for excellence and innovation within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs. These exemplary projects showcase water quality improvements and public health protections that can be achieved when the federal government, states, municipalities and local utilities work together.
“The State Revolving Fund programs play a critical role in helping communities modernize aging infrastructure, create jobs, and protect public health and the environment,” said David Ross, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “These projects are making vital water quality improvements in communities across the country.”
EPA’s PISCES program celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programs and assistance recipients. Each participating program nominated an innovative project that improved water quality, provided public health or economic benefits; and/or encouraged sustainability in the marketplace.
“Today’s PISCES award acknowledges the efforts that the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District has made to improve infrastructure and to protect water quality and human health,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cathy Stepp.
“Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District is honored to receive the PISCES award,” said Michael Mucha, chief engineer & director, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. “Pumping Station 15 was a truly collaborative project, made possible thanks to support and insight from adjacent communities, private businesses and citizens. With their input, we designed this state-of-the-art facility to not only address water quality and public health, but to incorporate sustainability and energy-efficiency features and amenities for the local community.
In 2016, due to its age and future land development, the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District began a major rehabilitation project of Pumping Station 15. Located between a boat ramp and a heavily used bike path, Pumping Station 15 upgrades include installing rooftop photovoltaic cells, high efficiency pumps, and electrical feeds, making the pump station more resilient against extreme weather events. The station conveys an average of 1.32 million gallons of wastewater per day with capacity up to 8.8 million gallons per day, which is expected to meet the needs of the service area through 2045.
In addition to the pump upgrades, the heavily-trafficked location receives new public restrooms, two aquatic invasive species boat wash hydrants, and a bike repair station. Sustainable design practices include the installation of bioretention ponds, a green roof, rain gardens, and permeable pavement walkways. The project also includes a real-time information display that highlights information about pumping speeds and water flow.
The State Revolving Funds (SRF) are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. EPA’s SRFs have provided more than $170 billion in financial assistance to over 39,900 water quality infrastructure projects and 14,500 drinking water projects across the country. This year’s honored projects include large wastewater infrastructure upgrades, community driven green infrastructure development and the construction of new water treatment plants. Several projects also include lead service line replacement, furthering EPA’s goals to protect human health under the Federal Lead Action Plan. All of these projects highlight outstanding achievements in water quality improvement that benefit Americans from coast to coast.
To see the full list of 2019 PISCES recognized projects visit the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf/
