LYNN — The Lynn Water and Sewer Commission has received two loans from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust totaling more than $123 million.
The Lynn Water and Sewer Commission (LWSC) is working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency on a long-term plan to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges into local receiving waters.
As part of this plan, the LWSC received more than $53.64 million for its West Lynn Sewer Separation project, which is the first of many projects included in the plan to mitigate CSO discharges into Lynn Harbor.
The LWSC received another loan totaling approximately $70.32 million for capital improvements to its wastewater-treatment facility, as the project includes modifications and additions to the existing wastewater-treatment plant (WWTP) and collection system pump stations.
“The commission is extremely pleased and appreciative that the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust has approved our application to finance the $70 million WWTP Initial Capital Improvements Project and the $53 million West Lynn CSO Sewer Separation Project through a 2 percent interest loan,” said Executive Director of LWSC Daniel O’Neill. “It is important to note that this is not free ARPA money: The $123 million total loan at 2 percent will cost the ratepayers of Lynn $178 million over the next 30 years. This will significantly impact rates in the near future.”
These improvements are necessary to remain in compliance with effluent requirements — national regulatory standards for wastewater discharged to surface waters and municipal sewage treatment plants.
This project will also help to maintain the WWTP functionality through the next 20-year operations contract and includes upgrades to the liquids and solids handling processes, improvements to the site and building system, and improvements to the collection system pumping stations.
The WWTP construction will begin in July and be completed in June of 2026.
“The CSO project is ongoing but this money is to finance the pump station and the force main,” O’Neill said. “Both projects have been bid but construction has not commenced, but will be complete by October 2025.”
The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust’s Board of Trustees approved more than $138.9 million in new low-interest loans for communities across the state.
The Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health and develops resilient communities.
To accomplish this, it provides low-interest loans and grants in the form of loan forgiveness to cities, towns and water utilities through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds (SRFs).
The SRF programs, partnerships between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, function like an environmental infrastructure bank by financing water infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the commonwealth.
