Portland, Westmoreland, Castalian Springs-Bethpage Water District, Gallatin and Sumner County are excited to announce the award of a collaborative grant of American Rescue Plan Act funds from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the State Water Infrastructure Grants (SWIG) Program. This investment of $19 million of TDEC ARP SWIG grant dollars leveraged with the $9 million Sumner County ARP SLFRF dollars will provide new infrastructure to reinforce water supplies from the Cumberland River that is processed by the City of Gallatin’s Water Treatment Plant.
As stated in the grant application, the project is characterized as a collaborative effort to update aging water infrastructure, to aid in drought mitigation, and to provide inter-connectivity in order to provide safe drinking water during periods of natural disasters and other catastrophic events.
The City of Portland stands to benefit the most from this announcement, as their source of water is from the West Fork of Drakes Creek. In times of low rainfall, the shortage of water has been an issue for decades.
"The collaborative TDEC Grant award is a blessing to the Northern part of Sumner as we look to bring water security, increase fire protection, and offer drought mitigation. The cooperation between the County and the cities has been wonderful,” said Portland Mayor Mike Callis.
“This announcement means so much to residents of our city,” said Westmoreland Mayor David Leath. “Improving our 40-year-old water lines is our main concern that will be replaced with the grant funds.”
“I’m very grateful that Gallatin Public Utilities has invested in their system, so they are able to be a part of this solution that will have generational impact,” said Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown.
“As Sumner County Mayor, I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with the stakeholders to complete this vital project for the health of our community. This combined effort will be transformational, by sharing capacity of the regional water transmission mains, the infrastructure costs will be more cost effective, than each entity completing it alone. Sumner County looks forward to a successful partnership to help provide an ample supply of safe drinking water to the citizens in the northeastern Sumner County region. This large investment in water infrastructure will assist with safe drinking water, drought mitigation, and fire protection needs. The improvements will pay dividends not just in the present, but in the years to come to address the water supply needs of citizens in the northern region of Sumner County.” John C. Isbell, Sumner County Mayor
Work will begin immediately on engineering design, and according to the grantor, funds must be expended by December 31, 2026.
