Walden prepared a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for the Engineering Planning Grant for a Town in the Hudson Valley Area. The Town needs to address a modification to their wastewater treatment plant’s SPDES permit in order to ensure regulatory compliance. The funding would also allow the development of alternative solutions – including the cooperative regionalization of a Town owned sewer utility with a nearby treatment provider. This would decommission the failing treatment works by consolidating flows to the nearby sewer plant. As part of the study, areas nearby with failed or failing septic systems will be identified to provide sanitary sewer service.
Walden had to navigate through CFA requirements to prepare a comprehensive, detailed, and appealing application. Walden researched how to best tie in important factors that make funding the project a priority in the eyes of the State. We outlined how the project has a positive impact on water quality in an environmental justice area using the best environmental justice practices. We also partnered with local agencies to seek approval for the work done. This included drafting letters of recommendation from different individuals such as the mayor and representatives of the economic development community. Walden also assembled a budget and a timeline for the project that fit the grant requirements and the financial constraints of the Town.
Walden has previously prepared this kind of application for the Town on a different project that has successfully received funding. The application for funding this project is currently pending. Walden will continue to work with the Town to ensure regulatory compliance is met and that the community’s failing septic systems are addressed with appropriate solutions that consider the financial constraints of the Town and uphold the best engineering practices.