Department of Ecology funds 130 clean water projects, including one in Thurston County

Each year, the Washington state Department of Ecology supports communities by funding clean water projects through the Water Quality Combined Funding Program.

This year, Ecology is investing $158.5 million in 130 projects across the state, including $550,000 to Thurston County.

"Every community in Washington depends on clean water," Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller said in a news release from the department. "From upgrading wastewater treatment and reducing stormwater pollution to restoring streams and lakes, these grants and loans help communities make essential investments that protect public health, improve water quality, and strengthen critical infrastructure."

Fifty-seven wastewater projects will receive about $83.7 million in grants, low-interest loans and forgivable-principal loans, which are loans that don't need to be repaid.

Five of these projects qualify for construction hardship assistance, which helps ease the burden of increased sewer rates for residents in small, financially disadvantaged communities, according to Ecology. A community qualifies for hardship assistance if its population is 25,000 or less, or if the project would increase residential utility fees by 2% or more of the median household income.

Thurston County Public Works will receive $550,000 from the Puget Sound Nutrient Reduction Grant Program for two of its wastewater treatment plants to help decrease the amount of nitrogen entering Puget Sound, according to the release. This includes a $350,000 grant for work at the Boston Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant. Ecology previously provided funding to develop and implement nitrogen-optimization strategies at this facility. This new funding supports the next phase of that work and will allow the plant to more precisely control conditions for nutrient reduction.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/yhz66zp3.

Ecology is accepting applications for the next clean water funding cycle from Aug. 11 to Sept. 30. To learn more about the application process, visit Ecology's Water Quality Combined Funding Program webpage at https://tinyurl.com/329krwhp.

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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 11:28 AM.