Natick Gets $600K Loan Forgiveness For Water Project

NATICK, MA — More than $107.3 million in grants were awarded for 43 municipal water projects in 35 communities across the Commonwealth.

That includes Natick, where one project was approved.

The grant funds are awarded to cities, towns, counties, and water utilities to help pay for improvements to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

“These grants will support vital water infrastructure projects throughout the state,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg.

“This investment furthers our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all Massachusetts residents by providing access to clean drinking water in even more communities this coming year.”

“Many communities across the Commonwealth are implementing important water infrastructure projects in a cost-effective manner thanks to a significant infusion of funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA),” added MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg.

The grant amounts are to be provided as loan forgiveness and are awarded by project category to provide much-needed financial assistance towards high-priority projects.

Among the projects receiving grant money are those dealing with PFAS remediation, small drinking water systems and wastewater projects.

Additionally, communities that qualify as “Disadvantaged Communities”, determined by an affordability metric that ranks each community in the Commonwealth, will receive additional loan forgiveness funds to ensure that subsidy is given to the communities that need it most.

In Natick, the state awarded $600,000 in loan forgiveness for PFAS treatment at the Springvale Water Treatment Plant. According to a state description, this will be used for emergency funding at the treatment plant.