By Agri-Pulse Staff
© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
WASHINGTON, April 18 – To mark Earth Day Friday, Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager awarded $105 million Monday in grants and loans for water and wastewater projects coast to coast.
“USDA invests in rural water and community facility projects that not only protect America’s natural resources but also provide a clean environment and economic opportunities for current and future generations,” Tonsager said. “USDA is especially proud of its role in helping rural communities and citizens gain access to safe and reliable drinking water, and in helping to improve environmental quality in rural areas.”
In all, 53 projects across the U.S. will be highlighted. Earth Day is observed annually on April 22 to raise awareness about the role each person can play to protect vital natural resources and safeguard the environment. Since the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, the event has expanded to include participation by citizens and governments in more than 195 countries.
As part of Monday's announcement, USDA Rural Development is providing more than $105 million to fund water and wastewater and community facilities projects.
For example, in Wisconsin, the Village of Fall River has been selected to receive a $4.2 million Rural Development loan and a $2.3 million grant to upgrade the sewer system. The current wastewater treatment facility is more than 40 years old, nearing the end of its useful life and is reaching design capacity. Consistent with recommendations from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the project is designed with a regionalized approach to achieve the greatest degree of environmental benefit. This project will include the construction of a new regional pump station and 3.7 miles of force main from the Village of Fall River to the city of Columbus. When complete, the project will provide wastewater treatment that eliminates effluent bypasses, improving water quality in a nearby river.
The city of North Middletown, Ky., has been selected to receive a $779,000 grant to upgrade and repair a wastewater treatment plant and collection system that has consistently failed to meet the terms of its discharge permit. The effluent from the plant is polluting a creek which is the sole source of water supply for a nearby city. In addition, during and after rainfalls, manhole covers fail and sewage overflows into nearby waterways and backs up into residences. Rural Development funds will be used to replace two miles of gravity sewer, 40 manholes, and 4,000 linear feet of sewer lateral lines, as well as enable the city to make updates to the wastewater treatment plant.
USDA Rural Development will host events across the country to highlight newly funded projects as well as past Earth Day projects. Previously funded Earth Day projects that are completed or near completion demonstrate how USDA is helping improve the environment in rural communities. For example, in 2009, using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, Rural Development awarded the city of Shelton, Wash., a $20.3 million loan and $4.7 grant to upgrade its aging wastewater treatment facility. The city added equipment to protect water quality and the local shellfish aquaculture. Upgrades and expansion to the plant, which are nearly 70 percent complete, have employed 30 to 50 construction workers since January 2010.
The complete list of water and wastewater award recipients:
Alabama
• Town of Fulton: $1,245,000 loan; $666,000 grant. To improve sewer services.
Arizona
• City of Bisbee: $700,000 grant. To improve sewer services.
California
• Lamont Public Utility District: $298,000 grant. To improve sewer services.
Connecticut
• Town of Thompson: $1,898,000 loan; $632,000 grant. To improve sewer services.
Delaware
• Town of Laurel: $2,778,000 loan; $1,208,000 grant. To improve drinking water and wastewater treatment services.
Florida
• City of Waldo: $2,527,000 loan; $2,837,300 grant. To improve wastewater system.
Georgia
• Twiggs County: $1,225,600 loan. To improve drinking water.
Idaho
• City of Aberdeen: $3,000,000 loan; $1,300,000 grant. To improve wastewater system.
Iowa
• ADLM Facilities Management System: $280,000 loan; $565,000 grant. To improve wastewater services.
Illinois
• Greene County Rural Water District: $1,614,000; $1,000,000 grant. To improve drinking water service.
Indiana
• Town of Pine Village: $987,000 loan; $1,297,000 grant. To improve wastewater system.
Kansas
• City of Burlingame-Phase 11: $1,650,000 loan; $550,000 grant. To improve wastewater system.
Kentucky
• South Anderson Water District: $1,000,000 loan. To improve water service.
• Farmdale Water District: $1,668,000 loan. To improve water service.
• City of North Middletown: $779,000 grant. To improve sewer service.
• Grayson County Water District: $525,000 loan; $205,000 grant. To improve water service.
Maryland
• Town of Berlin: $2,462,000 loan; $1,037, 350 grant. To improve sewer services.
Maine
• Town of Bingham: $627,000 loan; $943,000 grant. To improve wastewater service.
Minnesota
• City of Ashby: $1,014,000 loan; $476,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment services.
• City of Wendell: $535,000 loan; $604,000 grant. To improve water service.
Missouri
• City of Gideon: $1,905,000 loan; $699,125 grant. To improve wastewater treatment services.
• Taney Public Water Supply District No. 2: $870,000 loan. To improve water service.
• City of Wheatland: $564,000 loan; $440,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment services.
Mississippi
• High Point Water Association, Inc.: $1,419,000 loan; $1,009,000 grant. To improve water services.
North Carolina
• Town of Grifton: $573,000 loan; $675,000 grant. To upgrade wastewater system.
• Edgecombe Water and Sewer District V: $675,000 loan; $1,044,500 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
North Dakota
• City of Lidgerwood: $251,300 loan. To improve water service.
Nebraska
• City of Bayard: $3,000,000 loan; $1,613,000 grant. To improve water service.
New Jersey
• Lopatcong Township: $2,150,000 loan; $850,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
Nevada
• Mineral County: $1,574,000 loan. To improve wastewater treatment service.
Ohio
• Northwestern Water and Sewer District: $1,302,000 loan; $1,235,000 grant. To improve wastewater service.
Pennsylvania
• Benezette Township: $1,301,000 loan;$1,114,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
South Carolina
• Town of Iva: $1,259,000 loan; $1,859,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
• Marlboro Water Company, Inc.: $798,000 loan; $438,400 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
South Dakota
• Hisega Meadows Water, Inc.: $1,043,000 loan. To improve water service.
• City of Iroquois: $490,000 loan; $316,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
• City of Sturgis: $3,200,000 loan; $260,000 grant. To improve water service.
• Town of LaBolt: $100,000 loan. To improve wastewater treatment service.
Tennessee
• City of Crossville: $$4,000,000 loan; $1,000,000 grant. To improve water service.
Texas
• Fort Griffin Special Utility District: $2,606,000 loan; $364,000 grant. To improve water service.
Utah
• City of Blanding: $686,000 loan; $417,800 grant. To improve water service.
• Boulder Farmstead Water Company: $204,000 loan; $815,700, grant. To improve water service.
Vermont
• Town of Brighton: $25,000 grant. To provide energy efficiency improvements and restore historic features of 120-year old building which houses the town offices, probate court and public library. Funding is being provided by Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.
• Battleboro Mutual Aid Association, Inc.: $331,000 loan; $27,300 grant. To upgrade HVAC system, replace windows for nursing home. Funding is being provided by Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program.
Virginia
• Town of Buchanan: $3,811,300 loan; $2,439,700 grant. To improve water service.
• Dickenson County Public Service Authority Phase I: $598,000 loan; $430,000 grant. To improve water service.
• Dickenson County Public Service Authority Phase II: $594,000 loan;$425,000 grant. To improve water service.
• Wise County Public Service Authority: $451,000 loan;$917,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
Washington
• Buena Vista Community Club: $1,500,000 loan. To improve water service.
• Kittitas County Water District: $543,000 loan. To improve water service.
Wisconsin
• Village of Fall River: $4,186,000 loan; $2,249,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
Wyoming
• Eastern Shoshone Tribe: $999,000 grant. To improve a solid waste facility.
West Virginia
• Logan County Public Service District: $230,000 loan; $836,000 grant. To improve wastewater treatment service.
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