SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission has received a $250 million federal infrastructure loan.

The loan is designed to help the agency improve water quality and reliability by rehabilitating aging infrastructure throughout the system.

The loan will also help restore a hydropower facility that will deliver renewable energy to the Springfield water treatment plant, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Springfield Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Renewal Program will boost reliability and ensure drinking water is safe and wastewater is safely returned to the environment by rehabilitating, replacing, and upgrading the treatment of drinking water and wastewater, officials said Thursday.

The project also enables the water treatment plant to be powered by 100% renewable self-generated energy by rehabilitating the hydropower facility, providing a green power source for the system.

The project will cost $550 million and the loan will finance nearly half. The remaining costs will be funded in part by a $200 million loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission will save approximately $60 million by financing with the federal loan, officials said.

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