Airway Heights OK’d for treatment plant loan

Gov. Chris Gregoire has awarded the city of Airway Heights $7 million in low-interest loans for a new wastewater treatment, reclamation and ground-water recharge facility.

The loan is part of $71 million in infrastructure loans to 19 communities across the state to help local governments improve sanitary sewer systems and domestic water and storm-water services.

The funds will help finance a $34 million project to build a wastewater treatment plant in Airway Heights, according to Albert Tripp, public works director of Airway Heights.

The loan comes from the state’s Public Works Assistance Account, administered by the Public Works Board, and will be paid back with an interest rate of 0.5 percent.

Other funds for the plant have come from loans from the state Department of Ecology and the State Revolving Fund.

The city now has no treatment plant of its own but uses the Spokane regional plant.

Tripp said plans for the project are nearly half-completed.

“These projects are smart investments in local Washington communities,” Gregoire said about the loans in a news release. “They will help to protect public and environmental health while providing good jobs and support for thriving local communities.”

Construction on the Airway Heights plant is expected to begin sometime in 2009.