The Arconic Davenport Works plant has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the State of Iowa to upgrade its water infrastructure at the plant in Riverdale, according to the governor’s office. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that a total of $8.3 million in matching grants was awarded to five Iowa companies through Iowa’s Water […]
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The Arconic Davenport Works plant has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the State of Iowa to upgrade its water infrastructure at the plant in Riverdale, according to the governor’s office.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that a total of $8.3 million in matching grants was awarded to five Iowa companies through Iowa’s Water Infrastructure Fund (WIF), in a news release. In addition to Arconic Davenport Works, grants were approved for manufacturing and industrial facilities in Boone, Dubuque and Fort Dodge.
“Iowa has a long history of innovation to improve water quality and sustainability, and these projects continue that legacy,” Ms. Reynolds said. “We rely on our land and water to provide for Iowa’s future generations, which is why we remain focused on protecting, preserving and restoring Iowa’s water resources.”
The WIF funds will assist the companies in upgrading their water systems in order to reduce the heavy demand placed on the state’s surface and groundwater resources. The improvements also will lessen the local utilities’ needs to treat wastewater used for industrial purposes, the state’s release said.
Arconic’s share of the state’s grant funding was $2,205,277.
“Arconic thanks Governor Reynolds and the state’s Water Infrastructure Fund, managed by the Iowa Finance Authority, for the approval today of a grant to further increase our water recycling efforts,” Arconic spokesman John Riches told the QCBJ in an email.
The aluminum manufacturer has identified individual projects that could utilize water filtration and Reverse Osmosis systems to recycle water from up to 13 different production centers across the plant, he said.
The company estimates the improved infrastructure will reduce its water withdrawal by nearly 77% and its municipal sewer discharges by 29%.
Arconic plans to reclaim wastewater for further use in its production processes, which require high purity water. “These projects will significantly reduce the need for withdrawal from the drinking water system and reduce discharge of spent wastewaters to the municipal sewer,” Mr. Riches said.
He added that each project location may be implemented independently “to allow for capital to be targeted to achieve the greatest impact on water infrastructure demand.”
According to Mr. Riches, the grant will cover 50% of each project with the company paying the other 50% up to the total grant amount.
Arconic manufactures aluminum for a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets.
According to the state, the WIF awards are part of the governor’s historic $100 million investment in water infrastructure and water quality efforts for the state. The advancements are aimed at reducing excess nutrients, improving public health, promoting reuse of water and wastewater, and providing significant economic benefits to communities and the state.
The other Iowa recipients and their grant amounts and projects are:
- AgCertain, Boone, $3.915 million. The food, agricultural and bio-based product development, manufacturer and marketing company plans to implement a reverse osmosis system to meet the water needs for the existing facility and projected expansion.
- CJ Bio, Fort Dodge, $1,857,442. The plant produces amino acids that are added to swine and poultry feed. It is implementing a large-scale reverse osmosis water purification system to reduce its water draws from the city and its wastewater discharge.
- Hormel Foods, Dubuque, $57,813. The food products manufacturer plans to implement utilization of excess reverse osmosis concentrate water that is currently being sent to the industrial wastewater system.
- Prairie Farms, Dubuque, $275,350. The dairy products manufacturer plans to upgrade its Dubuque location to a new energy efficient compressor system to reduce incoming city water to the plant and reduce discharge to the city’s wastewater treatment system.
