The Virginia Department of Health has awarded the Town of Bowling Green $6.2 million in grant funding to address water quality challenges and implement a well replacement project and a project to treat Gross Alpha in the drinking water, town officials announced Monday.
The grant represents the single-most significant infrastructure grant in the history of the town, which is the county seat of Caroline and has a population of approximately 1,200.
According to a press release, Town Manager India Adams-Jacobs worked closely with the members of the General Assembly to secure the funding, most notably Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Westmoreland) and Del. Hillary Pugh Kent (R-Richmond County), who represent the town at the state level.
The General Assembly approved $25 million in grant funding earlier this year, with priority given to Bowling Green and Greene County.
“These funds will greatly assist the town in its effort to overcome Gross Alpha and well replacement issues, and I would like to thank our town manager for her diligent efforts to address this issue for our community,” Bowling Green Mayor Tina Gambill said.
In August 2024, town officials received a notice detailing violations of the Public Water Supplies law. The notice states that the town’s wells were over the legal limit for gross alpha emitters — or radioactive elements that release energy in the form of alpha particles when they decay. Those elements include uranium, thorium, radium, lead, radon or polonium. Â
In June 2023, radiological results from one well in the town showed 40 pCi/L for gross alpha emitters (15 is acceptable). Other wells and entry points in the Town Waterworks system ranged from 16-31 pCi/L.Â
On Jan. 18, 2024, results from two entry points showed a pCi/L of 26 and 30.Â
Gambill noted that in January 2024, the council identified water quality as the town’s No. 1 priority. Town officials drafted a legislative agenda that the council approved and forwarded to state legislators.
“At the town council’s direction, we are positioned to deliver this water quality improvement and well replacement project,” Gambill said. “We want to thank Sen. Stuart and Del. Pugh Kent for their efforts, as well as the house and senate appropriations committees.”
Since, 2024, the town has secured more than $9 million in funding for infrastructure improvements, including $2.7 million from the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund for wastewater infrastructure. Town officials are planning to pursue additional grants to support the repair and replacement of water lines in the Main Street area and to address needs at the wastewater treatment plant.
