Big Idea
- The projects will improve water infrastructure for 787,000 rural residents and businesses
- There are 220 projects in all
- The funding is provided for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage
- The eligible rural areas have populations of 10,000 or less
- Read more…
The funding comes from the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $891 million to modernize rural drinking water (PDF, 465 KB) and wastewater infrastructure in 43 states.
“Upgrading water infrastructure provides a path to economic growth and protects the health and safety of people who live and work in rural areas,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner to rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
These 220 projects will help improve rural water infrastructure for 787,000 residents. The projects are being funded through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.
The four Arizona projects
Town of Mammoth
Representative Tom O’Halleran (CD1)
Loan: $500,000
Description: This Rural Development investment will be used to for the first phase of construction and improvements to the Town of Mammoth water distribution system. The project includes replacing all the asbestos-cement pipeline with 6-inch and 8-inch diameter C900 polyvinyl chloride pipeline, the addition of new hydropneumatic tanks at Well Sites 4 and 5, new 8-inch pipeline from the booster station to Storage Tank 1, new 8-inch dedicated pipeline from the Wells 4 and 5 to Storage Tank 2, two new 6-inch pressure sustaining valves, and new 6-inch pressure reducing valve. The improvements will repair and replace failing infrastructure and system deficiencies caused by aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance, and cure the health, sanitation and security issues.
Pine-Strawberry Water Improvement District
Representative Paul Gosar (CD4)
Loan: 22,530,000
Description: This Rural Development investment will be used to make improvements to the Pine-Strawberry Water System, located in Gila County. Four wells will be rehabilitated, one new well will be drilled to replace an existing well, a storage tank will be constructed at the Milk Ranch Well Site, six water main projects will be replaced, a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system will be installed, a Water Model Report will be prepared, and existing debt will be paid off. The improvements are needed for the water system to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency Water Regulations.
Bouse Domestic Waer Improvement District
Representative Paul Gosar (CD4)
Loan: $400,000
Grant: $828,500
Description: This Rural Development investment will be used to make improvements to the Bouse Domestic Water Improvement water system, to bring it up to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality standards. The undersized water lines will be replaced, system will be upgraded with drive-by meters, a water treatment system will be installed for arsenic removal, an operations building added, both a new well and a 70,000 gallon water storage tank will be developed, and other appurtenances necessary to bring the aged system up to modern standards.
Berry Utilities, Inc
Representative Raul Grijalva (CD3)
Representative Paul Gosar (CD4)
Loan: 772,000
Grants: $181,000
Description: This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase the existing Aguila Water Service water system, which consists of two wells, three steel water storage tanks (one inactive), two booster stations with hydro-pneumatic tanks (one booster has two 5,000 gallon hydro-pneumatic tanks and the other has one small hydro tank), two standpipes with distribution meters, and 16.3 miles of distribution system pipeline, ranging in size from 4-inches to 6-inches. Minor improvements will also be made to the system consisting of upgrades to the pump and piping coating system, new service flow control valve, purchase of 330 new drive-by radio water meters with installation of 319, which will be supported by meter reading/accounting equipment. The water system will also purchase a new 60k watt emergency stand-by generator and associated electrical improvements made, and purchase a truck to be used to collect usage data from the new drive-by radio water meters. This project will promote system efficiency to avoid seeking additional water sources, promote water conservation, and continue to provide reliable local service for the community of Aguila, Arizona, an unincorporated area in Maricopa County.
Background:
The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
These USDA investments are going to Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.