HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Huntington City Council on Monday approved a $5.1 million grant to the Huntington Stormwater Utility for improving the city’s floodwall as well as related expenditures.
The funding will go toward stabilizing the 11th Street pump station and monoliths in addition to replacing a sewage line origination from the pump station. The grant will also go toward a future project to remove sewage line infrastructure from the pump stations on 9th and 11th streets.
The city noted after the council’s vote that flooding in 2015 and 2018 moved and tilted the 11th Street pump station, pulling the monolith walls and deep sewer outflow pipe apart.
“This is a significant amount of money that is going to be utilized for protecting the citizens here,” said Brian Bracey, the executive director of the Huntington Water Quality Board.
Bracey noted the utility will match 20% of the grant, bringing the total funds to around $6.5 million. Bracey added the board is planning to get work started soon.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in January 2019 approved the proposed removal of sewer infrastructure.