CHICOPEE, Mass. - The city of Chicopee is getting a $4.5 million grant to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant.

The plant's water currently flows into the Connecticut River and south to the Atlantic Ocean, so the hope is that the project will have a regional impact.

"Not many people want to put their name on a sewer pipe or on a wastewater treatment plan," Chicopee Mayor, John Vieau said. "But those are necessities in making sure that we take care of our gray waters, what we call it, when it goes through the system."

The Environmental Protection Agency money will help Chicopee pay for phase one of a more than $62 million project. When finished, the plant will release less nitrogen human waste into the river, leading to healthier oxygen levels in the water.

Chicopee Water Pollution Department chief operator Eric Kerr said the Chicopee side of the Connecticut River has had issues with oxygen levels for years due to the large amounts of waste they process.  

"When the rivers get limited oxygen levels, the fish population suffer," Kerr said. "The quality of the water deteriorates. So these are all about making the Connecticut River a more pleasant place to be."​

Kerr said a lot of the equipment which filters water and treats waste at the water pollution control site is long overdue for renovation.

"So this is a lift pump. We have three of them," Kerr said. "These are quite aged now and part of the project that we got a grant for is going to help in either rehabilitating or replacing these."

Vieau said the city is proactive in trying to become a more green environment and hopes the new grant will allow for Chicopee to contribute to a making waterways in western Massachusetts more safe for recreation.

"Growing up in Chicopee, swimming, not so much in the river, but being down there and fishing and using other paths of recreation," Vieau said. "We're hopeful that someday, people will, like they do in parts above the dam in the South Hadley, Northampton, will start using our river just like that."

The mayor said the city has a plan in place for the wastewater treatment center and there is a timeline with the grant money as all upgrades at the facility need to be complete by 2029.