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Trump Administration Invests $891 Million in Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in 43 States

Name
Karen Lawson
City
Alexandria
Release Date

The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $891 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 43 states. USDA Rural Development State Director Roy Holleman is pleased to announce an investment of $3,446,000 for wastewater infrastructure improvements in rural Louisiana.  

“Rural Development is a catalyst for rural prosperity,” Holleman said. “USDA and our partners are here to help our rural communities find solutions to address water infrastructure needs in rural Louisiana”

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.

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.

For example, as part of today’s announcement in Louisiana:

  • Hagewood Water System Inc. will use a $277,000 loan and  $226,000 grant to add just under three miles of six-inch water main and a booster station. The existing facilities are in good condition with a well, ground storage tank, elevated storage tank, booster station and approximately 36 miles of pipes.  The project will allow Hagewood Water System to purchase water from Sabine Water District 1, a neighboring water treatment facility.  
  • Morrow Water System Inc. will use a $1,534,000 loan to replace a 150,000-gallon water storage tank and upgrade water lines.  There are approximately 150 miles of water lines and some of the pipes have been in constant use since the system was formed a half-century ago.  The older pipes are small and reduce water pressure.  25,000 linear feet of aged, small water lines will be replaced with 6-inch lines.  Approximately 11,400 linear feet of new, six-inch water lines will be installed.  Sixty meters will be reconnected as well as 40 meters added for new service connections.  This project will serve customers in the St. Landry and Avoyelles Parishes. 
  • Village of Gilbert will use a $588,000 loan and $821,000 grant to rehabilitate Gilbert's sewer system.  Two sewer lift stations, with pumps, will be constructed.  Force mains with 3-inch and 4-inch diameters will be installed to better contain the flow of wastewater in low-lying areas.  New aerators will be installed in the oxidation pond, chlorination and de-chlorination facilities will be added, and the aeration basin and rock reed filter will be refurbished.  Much of the sewerage system was built in 1972 with minor renovations in 1989.  The project is desperately needed to maintain proper sanitation infrastructure.   

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, 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/tn.

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.