Funding for the Quail Valley Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project Secured by Rep. Calvert
Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) highlighted the inclusion of $2.5 million for the Quail Valley Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project in the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill. Rep. Calvert voted along with a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives to approve the bill on Wednesday, March 9th. The bill was subsequently approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President.
Quail Valley is an ethnically diverse and disadvantaged community in Riverside County that regularly has failing septic tanks that overflow during rain events. As a result, raw sewage impacts the immediate community as well as downstream environments, including Canyon Lake, a drinking water reservoir. To address the significant challenges presented by Quail Valley's failing septic tanks, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is working to convert homes to direct sewer connections. The funds were requested by EMWD to construct the first phase of the septic to sewer conversion project for Subarea 4. The overall project has been identified as a priority for both the California Water Resources Control Board and the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board.
"EMWD is incredibly appreciative of the funds Congressman Calvert has helped secure in the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill to support our septic to sewer conversion project in Quail Valley," said EMWD Board President Phil Paule. "This funding will have a direct impact on our ability to advance a project that will protect public health in an economically disadvantaged community. We are grateful for the partnership we have with Congressman Calvert and look forward to future opportunities to work together to benefit the residents we mutually serve."
"The Quail Valley Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project is a significant priority for Riverside County," said Rep. Calvert. "The overflow events triggered by heavy rains pose a significant health risk and degradation of water quality throughout the watershed. Addressing this ongoing problem will provide benefits to residents in Quail Valley as well as communities downstream in Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore. More work remains to complete additional septic conversions in the region, but the funding included in the FY22 bill is a positive step towards the completion of this beneficial project. I appreciate the efforts of everyone at EMWD on this vital project."
Under the U.S. Constitution, all federal funding must be appropriated by Congress. As part of the annual appropriations process, members of Congress are provided the opportunity to submit Community Project Funding (CPF) requests to the Appropriations Committee for consideration. Rep. Calvert's CPF requests were submitted on behalf of local governments and non-profit organizations in the 42nd District. To satisfy required transparency and other safeguards, Rep. Calvert previously posted detailed CPF project descriptions online and certified that he had no financial interest in the projects. The funding included in the appropriation bills for CPF projects does not increase the overall size of their respective federal programs. The process merely allocates where approved federal funding is spent and reasserts Congress' constitutional role of appropriating funds.
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