NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 7, 2021 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $307 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 34 states and Puerto Rico. Tennessee Rural Development Acting State Director Dan Beasley is pleased to announce investments in Hamilton and Sevier County, Tennessee.
The investments being announced today follow President Biden’s announcement last week of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework that will make the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history. The Framework will replace all of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines, helping address barriers faced by communities of color, Tribal communities, and rural America.
"We are excited to partner with Walden's Ridge and East Sevier Utility Districts," said Beasley. "It is our commitment to provide investments to improve the infrastructure in these rural communities in an effort to help them build back better and stronger.”
USDA is financing the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to help eliminate outdated pipes and service lines to safeguard public health and safety in rural communities. They will help improve rural infrastructure for 250,000 residents and businesses.
USDA is announcing investments today in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington Wisconsin, West Virginia and Puerto Rico.
In Tennessee:
- Walden’s Ridge Utility District is receiving a $12.1 million loan to construct a new booster station at the site of the existing station for a parallel feed to the Walden's Ridge Utility District service area. The station will consist of three High Pressure Multi-Stage Horizontal Split Case pumps, each with 350 horsepower and rated at 800 gallons per minute at 1,250 head in feet, 2,800 linear feet of 16-inch welded steel pipe up the Signal Mountain escarpment will replace the existing 6-inch pipe, and 4,000 linear feet of 12-inch ductile iron pipe for suction pressure improvements. Currently, Walden's Ridge only feed is from the Mountain Creek Road booster pump station. The second feed will reduce the vulnerability of reliance on one feed. In addition to the construction component of this project, the utility will refinance $6 million of existing debt. This will allow them to consolidate debt and lower the total interest expense over the life of the loan. These improvements will benefit 9,517 residents.
- East Sevier County Utility District is receiving a $112,000 loan and $91,000 grant to provide additional financing to construct a wastewater treatment plant. The project will replace the existing steel package plant with a steel package plant. The plant will have greater capacity and operational efficiency to treat sewage from the more than 400 residents. Previous funding includes $1 million in USDA loans and grants.
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 households and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
To learn more about these and other resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, tribal and high-poverty 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.
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