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WASHINGTON -- The Institute at Tremont will receive $1.6 million to improve its wastewater treatment systems under a bill approved by the U.S. Senate Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander announced that the conference report to the Interior appropriations bill he co-authored includes $1 million in increased funding for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The bill would provide $20.4 million in base operations funding for the Smokies. It now goes to the president for his signature.

The bill includes funding for these projects in the Smokies:

$1.6 million to to replace deteriorating water and wastewater systems at the Institute at Tremont. These systems are located next to the Little River and untreated water is polluting the river.

$1.5 million for historical collection research and preservation. Funding would be used to construct a new facility to preserve historic artifacts and documents from the Park. The current facility is rented by the Park, does not adequately protect artifacts and is located an hour's drive away.

$340,000 to improve infrastructure at the Cosby recreation area. Funding would be used to help replace 50-year-old water-production equipment -- building a new 30,000-gallon above-ground reservoir, 10,300 linear feet of new distribution system piping, new valves and the installation of fire hydrants.