Funds to advance ongoing efforts to improve water quality in the Connecticut River
CHICOPEE, MA – On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – Chicopee City Hall Auditorium – Congressman Richard Neal will visit Chicopee to announce funding he helped secure in support of Phase Two of the City’s nitrogen removal project at the wastewater treatment plant. The funding is made available through the Massachusetts Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and will be administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
“I am pleased to join with Mayor Vieau to announce this critical investment in Chicopee’s wastewater infrastructure. As a former mayor, I know just how important these projects are and what they mean to a community. This announcement will represent a significant step in protecting public health and the local environment,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal. “At a time when Congress’s constitutional authority over the public purse is too often challenged, this event will serve as a reminder of the critical role Congress plays in directing federal resources where they are needed most. America’s infrastructure is aging, but thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, coupled with congressionally directed investments like the one we will highlight in Chicopee, we are making terrific strides in modernizing essential systems across the country, including right here in western and central Massachusetts.”
The funding is supported by the FY26 Interior and Environment appropriations process and will help advance ongoing efforts to reduce nitrogen discharges, improve water quality in the Connecticut River, and provide downstream environmental benefits to communities throughout Western Massachusetts and beyond.
The Chicopee Wastewater Pollution Control Facility was not originally designed to meet modern nitrogen removal standards and is now subject to federally required discharge limits issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and MassDEP. Compliance with these limits is necessary to maintain the City’s discharge permit and protect water quality in the Connecticut River and downstream waters. Federal and state investment through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund allows Chicopee to meet these requirements while minimizing the financial burden on local ratepayers.
Each summer, elevated levels of nitrogen enter the Connecticut River, which flows downstream to Long Island Sound. Excess nitrogen, which originates from wastewater, contributes to a process known as eutrophication. Eutrophication occurs when excess nutrients stimulate excessive algae growth. As algae break down, bacteria consume oxygen in the water, leading to hypoxia, a condition that can displace or kill essential aquatic species such as fish and crustaceans.
The environmental impact extends beyond Chicopee, affecting downstream communities including West Springfield, Agawam, Springfield, and Longmeadow. Addressing nitrogen pollution at its source will help reduce downstream impacts and provide long term regional environmental benefits throughout Western Massachusetts.
The project is being implemented in three phases. Phase One, completed in 2022, focused on upgrading biological reactors, improving liquid treatment systems, and enhancing solids processing. Phase Two, supported by this newly awarded funding, represents the primary nitrogen reduction component of the project. Phase Three will include comprehensive upgrades and repairs to the water pollution control plant.
“We are extremely grateful for the continued partnership and advocacy brought forth by Congressman Neal,” said Mayor John Vieau. “Without his support and the assistance of MassDEP, and the EPA, these improvements would not be financially feasible for the city. As a fisherman and avid nature lover, I am especially excited about Phase Two and its role in reducing nitrogen levels, helping protect our wildlife and ensuring the Connecticut River remains enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.”
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About the Long Island Sound Study:
LISS is a long standing federal-state partnership established in 1985 to protect and restore Long Island Sound. It focuses on reducing nitrogen pollution and supporting watershed projects, including wastewater treatment upgrades that improve water quality from inland rivers to coastal ecosystems.
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