The Washington State Department of Health announced Tuesday the state Public Works Board has awarded $84.2 million in low-interest loans from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to 26 communities for a variety of drinking water projects.

The City of Tacoma was awarded a $12.12 million loan for a project entitled “Green River Filter Facility.”

The revolving fund is a federal/state program that provides loans with interest rates ranging from 1 to 1.5 percent to public water systems for capital improvements that protect public health.

The 26 communities will get the loans four to six months earlier than in past years, so they can start construction sooner. The state Departments of Health and Commerce, and the Public Works Board — the agencies responsible for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund — found a way to speed approvals for applicants with low financial risk. Those projects can move forward, while the agencies help other applicants whose ability to repay loans is less certain.

“This is one of our most effective programs to help communities make their drinking water safer and protect the health of families,” said Denise Clifford, director of the Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water. “We’re helping communities get low-interest loans rapidly for major construction projects. That protects public health while helping support jobs at a time when they’re badly needed.”

A complete list of the 26 projects awarded low-interest loans is online here.