Project will improve flood mitigation measures for critical facility devastated by 2010 flooding
WARWICK, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Jim Langevin today joined with Governor Lincoln D. Chafee, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Janine Burke, Executive Director of the Warwick Sewer Authority (WSA), and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) to announce that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved federal funding to protect the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility against future flooding.
The approval announced today includes an estimated $3.6 million in federal funds, which will cover 90 percent of the proposed project to upgrade flood protection measures at the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility, which is designated a "critical" facility by RIEMA and currently treats an average of five million gallons per day. The City will save $600,000 on the cost of construction due to a provision included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act which reduced from 25% to 10% the non-federal share for certain FEMA assistance provided in response to Rhode Island's 2010 floods.
Rhode Island experienced historic and devastating flooding in March 2010, and many areas of Warwick were inundated during the storm. The Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility, located near the Pawtuxet River, was especially hard hit when a protective levee was overtopped by the river, completely submerging the facility including six pumping stations along the river, and knocking out power and all treatment operations. As a result of this damage, the facility was unable to effectively process wastewater for a week and it took several additional months to restore operations to full capacity. All told, the flood caused nearly $14 million in damages, about half related to electrical systems.
President Obama declared a major disaster for the State of Rhode Island on March 29, 2010, as a result of the severe storms and flooding. This declaration authorized Public Assistance (PA), Individual Assistance (IA), and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding in all five counties in Rhode Island. Seeking to avoid future devastating floods at the wastewater treatment facility, the Warwick Sewer Authority proposed to raise the height of its protective levee to a 500-year flood event level.
After HMGP funding for the project was rejected by FEMA in the initial application and seemed doomed, the delegation intervened to support WSA and RIEMA's appeals, taking the case directly to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. At the Administrator's direction, FEMA worked with state and local officials for another year to refine the proposal, ultimately developing a project that could be approved under the Public Assistance program, enabling the City to reduce its share of the cost by $600,000.
"City and state officials have worked long and hard to develop a cost-effective plan to protect the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility. This is welcome news for the more than 60,000 Warwick residents who rely on this facility, and the savings of about $600,000 helps make the wait worth it," said Senator Reed, who authored the provision to reduce the non-federal cost-share for Public Assistance projects related to the 2010 floods. "I want to commend FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for his personal intervention to get this project moving. The strength of our local economy depends on the health of our water resources, so this project is a wise investment for public health and safety as well as the environment and economy. The federal government must be a reliable partner when it comes to maintaining and upgrading infrastructure in our communities, and I will continue to work to ensure Rhode Island cities and towns get every dollar they need to complete critical projects like these, no matter how long it takes."
"Rhode Islanders know the devastation flooding can inflict on our homes, businesses, and neighborhoods," said Senator Whitehouse. "Sensible improvements like these will go a long way in reducing the risks from future flooding, and keeping our communities safe and healthy. I applaud Administrator Fugate for his efforts and congratulate Mayor Avedisian and the City of Warwick on this important investment in wastewater infrastructure."
"There are few investments more important to a community than those to safeguard public health and build strong infrastructure. These funds will do just that, making Warwick's Wastewater Treatment Facility more resilient against future storms and floods. Rhode Island has already seen the effects of climate change, from sea level rise to superstorms. It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that our infrastructure is equipped to withstand these changing conditions, and I am glad to see our state, local, and federal partners recognizing that imperative," said Congressman Jim Langevin.
"I praise the efforts of state and federal officials involved in securing this important grant," Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. "We are currently experiencing more frequent and intense storms, creating major challenges for our cities and towns, businesses and residents. We must continue investing in our infrastructure and protect valuable resources such as the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility."
"While we have always understood the importance of our wastewater treatment facility in protecting public health and the environment, the flood of 2010 underscored how critical this infrastructure is," said Mayor Avedisian. "These improvements will address past vulnerabilities at the treatment facility and help to ensure that the system can remain operational should another catastrophe occur – protecting our residents and business community alike from disruption. Securing this funding took time, cooperation and patience on the part of the many people who worked together to secure FEMA's funding approval. I am very grateful to our delegation for their advocacy on behalf of the City of Warwick and the Warwick Sewer Authority, and for working to further reduce the City's project costs by $600,000."
"What a tremendous effort by all agencies and local officials in securing this grant," said Jamia McDonald, Executive Director of RIEMA. "This funding will allow the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility to strengthen their infrastructure and preserve a critical function for the City of Warwick and the State of Rhode Island."
The proposed flood mitigation measures outlined in the project application are three-fold: raise the existing levee to the 500-year flood level, with a two-foot safety factor; add a toe drain system to keep groundwater below the inside portion of the levee and allow the levee to remain stable during future flooding events; and modify the existing storm drain system. All three measures are intended to reduce the chance of future flood damages to the wastewater facility buildings and equipment, as occurred during the March 2010 storm. The improvements are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. AECOM is the engineer for the project, and Hart Engineering Corporation has been awarded the construction bid.
The Public Assistance funding for this project is authorized under Section 406 of the Stafford Act, which provides FEMA with discretionary authority to fund mitigation measures in conjunction with the repair of the disaster-damaged facilities.