Grants for 2 Trinity water projects

Two federal economic stimulus grants have been awarded for water treatment projects in Trinity County.

The Weaverville Community Services District has been awarded a $495,000 grant for a project at its West Weaver Treatment Plant. The Trinity Village Water Company in Hawkins Bar was awarded more than $1.5 million for a large water treatment project, including a grant of over $1.1 million with the remainder to be a loan.

The money was awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Among its provisions, ARRA provides funding to the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for development of California's drinking water systems. Statewide, 81 projects have been awarded $182 million.

The grant to the Weaverville Community Services District will be used to enhance filtration, safety and security systems at the West Weaver plant, General Manager Dave Van Denover said.

The water district had applied for almost $1.5 million for three projects, including the work at West Weaver, enhancements at its East Weaver Treatment Plant and installation of a pump station by Highway 3 across the highway from Browns Ranch Road.

The West Weaver project had a higher rating than the other two because the treatment process at that plant is not in compliance with federal regulations aimed at protecting against the Cryptosporidium parasite, although the finished water does meet standards, Van Denover said.

The other two projects did not make the cut to receive economic stimulus funding, but the district still plans to build the pump station. It will allow the district the flexibility to pump water from West Weaver Creek or the Trinity River to the East Weaver tank or the district's 2 million gallon main reservoir above Reservoir Road in Weaverville.

Work at West Weaver will involve enhancements to existing filtration on the treatment plant including addition of a pre-filter, automatic shutoff valves for the chlorine gas system and improvements to the security system. The district likely will go out to bid on the project in July, with construction to begin in September, Van Denover said.

The Trinity Village Water Company is to use its $1.5 million grant/loan to install a new water intake in the Trinity River, construct a variable speed pumping system, install required water conveyance piping to the treatment and holding facilities, and renovate its existing treatment and holding facilities.

From the Weaverville water district, Van Denover said he is also looking into the possibility of applying for stimulus funding for a solar power system at the district office and Trinity River treatment plant.