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Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi speaks Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at a FEMA press conference where Provo was awarded $50 million for an aquifer project.

Courtesy FEMA

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Nancy Dragani, regional administrator over FEMA's Region 8, speaks Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at a FEMA press conference where Provo was awarded $50 million for an aquifer project.

Courtesy FEMA

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A rendering of the building that will house the aquifer storage recharging system in Provo is pictured Monday, Aug. 29, 2022.

Courtesy FEMA

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced award recipients for more than $2.3 billion in grant funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program.

The BRIC program is only in its second year and communities must apply for a chance at receiving grant funding.

The state of Utah is receiving more than $100 million in funding for three projects. The greatest amount of $50 million is slated for an aquifer storage recharging system in Provo.

Two other projects include $36.7 million to rebuild and retrofit the Salt Lake City Water Treatment Plant and $21 million for a pipeline project in the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.

The Salt Lake City project includes several flood mitigation measures to facility components and a seismic retrofit for one building. The award represents a 70% federal cost share.

The $21.6 million to the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District is for a parallel water pipeline for the Davis Aqueduct. The parallel line will use earthquake-resistant steel pipe and be routed though less seismically sensitive areas, allowing continued service should the existing pipeline be damaged or blocked after a quake. The award represents a 40% federal cost share.

The announcement was made Monday morning from the White House with a follow-up press conference held in Provo at the Riverview Park, 4620 N. 300 West.

Following the press conference, Dave Decker, Provo’s Public Works director, showed guests an example of how an aquifer is recharged. The park houses Provo’s aquifer storage project.

Laura Briefer, director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, and Scott Paxman, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District general manager, were there to represent their projects and to give a brief thank you to FEMA.

Provo received the most any one project can receive from BRIC funding, according Katherine Fox, FEMA’s Region 8 deputy administrator.

“One of the things that was appealing on the Provo application was the innovation and investing in the future,” Fox said. “I am very encouraged on how Utah did this year.”

Utah received a tenth of all the money released from Washington, and Provo’s water recharging program was one of only four drought-related projects in the nation to receive funding. Provo’s project ticked all the boxes, according to Nancy Dragani, FEMA Region 8 director.

“I commend this community,” Dragani said.

In return, Mayor Michelle Kaufusi thanked Dragani and her staff for awarding Provo the BRIC grant.

“With this comes the opportunity to build a state-of-the-art water treatment plant to meet the water needs of Provo for generations to come,” Kaufusi said.

And in a true spirit of partnership, this grant will be augmented with funds from the state, Utah County and Provo City, Kaufusi noted.

Dragani told the audience the BRIC program is to make sure water continues to flow in the three areas of Utah receiving the grants.

“This is an exciting day for Provo citizens,” the mayor said. “Why is the announcement of this grant — and a resulting new water treatment plant — so important to our community’s future? It’s forward looking.”

“First, the treatment plant will play an essential role in drought resilience. Second, the treatment plant will function as a secondary treatment source — and as a redundant water supply to Utah County in an emergency,” Kaufusi added. “Lastly, the treatment plant is a valuable piece of our aquifer management program, ensuring a long-term, sustainable water supply for Provo City and the surrounding region.”

A healthy ground water system is an important element of the natural supply to surface water sources such as Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake.

“Provo City is being waterwise — in the short term by encouraging citizen water conservation, and in the long term by emphasizing ground water storage, reuse and other sustainable methods,” Kaufusi said. “Water management is the responsibility of all, and we’re pleased Provo’s efforts are being recognized nationally. Today represents a day when so many have done their part to better secure our water future.”

The second round of BRIC funding, $2.3 billion, will be released in the next few weeks, according to Fox.

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