Bristol gets state loan for sewage plant upgrade (Bristol Press)

BRISTOL — The state has given Bristol half the $19 million it needs to upgrade its sewage treatment plant and loan the city the rest of the necessary cash.

The allocation, part of a phosphorus reduction initiative, was approved by the State Bond Commission last week.

“It’s nice the governor stepped forward to take care of Bristol,” said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat. He called the money “a great shot in the arm for the city.”

“We’ve got to make sure that wastewater treatment plant is working properly,” Nicastro said.

The treatment plant can process more than 10 million gallons daily and discharges its wastewater into the Pequabuck River.

The federal and state government recently required that municipalities upgrade wastewater treatment plants to treat phosphorus, a mineral found in wastewater that can be harmful to the environment.

Bristol began reducing phosphorus in the water in 2010 in anticipation of the new regulations, which put it near the top of the list for funding in Connecticut.

The city got $3.4 million in funding last year to get started and now has enough to move ahead with the project.

Work may get underway this spring and could be done in time for the plant to work fully in 2016, officials said.

The $9.5 million loan is supposed to be paid back over 20 years at 2 percent annual interest.

– Steve Collins can be reached at (860) 584-0501, ext. 1801, or at [email protected].