Investments Include Infrastructure Projects that Help People Living in Five Rural Washington Communities
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2021 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $272 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for 270,000 people living in rural communities across 37 states (including Washington) and Puerto Rico.
“As people in many parts of the nation battle drought and fires brought on by climate change, there has never been a more urgent need for this assistance,” Vilsack said. “When we invest in rural infrastructure, we build opportunity and prosperity for people in rural communities. These investments support the local economy by making rural communities attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work, therefore helping to create and save jobs by attracting and retaining employers and workers.
“Investing in rural water infrastructure is one of the many things the Biden-Harris Administration is doing to help the nation build back better during the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
USDA is financing 114 projects, including five projects in Washington State, through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will help improve rural infrastructure for 270,000 people and businesses.
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. The program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
Five projects totaling $6.8 million will be awarded funding in Washington State, benefiting 11,478 rural residents. For example:
- The City of White Salmon is receiving a $3.3 million loan/grant combination to replace a failing water main along the Buck Creek Road located in Klickitat County. The installation, which will include 12,580 feet of water transmission main, valves and fittings, will reduce water loss and address the risk of water main failure, benefiting the city’s 2,554 residents.
- The city of Selah will receive a $2.1 million loan to install a new sewer main from Fourth Street to Railroad Avenue, Fourth Street and Fremont to Naches Avenue, and install sewer main on North Wenas Road and a new main up to Hilcrest Drive to connect the sewer to relive surcharging throughout the city of Selah's downtown core, benefiting the city’s 7,858 residents.
- The Snoqualmie Pass Utility District will receive a $1 million loan to construct a new membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant that will discharge through the outfall pipe to Coal Creek. The district serves 250 full time residents and 16,000 during peak season. This funding will also assist the District with ceasing land application in the U.S. Forest area and enable the District to meet regulatory requirements for discharge to Coal Creek.
- In Island County, the Arrowhead Beach Cooperative Water Association will receive a $436,000 loan to replace water distribution pipes and water meters. Arrowhead Beach Cooperative is a small community located on Camano Island and serves 245 people.
- The Town of Lind in Adams County will receive $49,000 to replace two pumps and install controls capable of operating the new pumps. This system will allow personnel to manually capture and remove rags, wipes and similar solids from the lift station without entering the lift station, benefiting the Town's 571 residents.
“We are very happy to invest in the critical infrastructure of our rural communities,” said Trudy Teter, Acting State Director for USDA Rural Development in Washington State. “Modern and reliable water infrastructure is foundational to quality of life and economic development,”
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, contact USDA Rural Development in Washington State.