By Melody Brunson
As part of his remarks Friday during the CLEAN challenge presentation, Indiana Department of Environmental Management Tom Easterly praised the City of Washington’s plan for combined sewer overflow which would clean up the water in Hawkins Creek.
Easterly said the city’s environmentally-friendly plan was the “most innovative” in the State of Indiana to date.
Storm water control has been a major aspect of the new system, which as of three years ago was to cost $63 million. Estimated costs are now at $25 million or less and Washington Mayor Larry Haag said the project may be completed in as little as two years.
Currently, the city is seeking grants and state monies to help with the costs. “We want to harvest millions to buy down this rate,” Haag said Friday. City utility users may see their sewage rates go up by as much as $10 a month when the project is complete, but that figure may be lower depending on public funding for the project.
Easterly said because the city is taking the CLEAN challenge, it will get “bonus points” in the competition for grant dollars.
