Projects Address Barriers Communities Face Accessing Public Health and Safety
PHOENIX, Ariz., July 7, 2021 – Acting Arizona State Director Jeff Hays today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is investing $7.2 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in Arizona.
USDA is financing the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The investments will help eliminate outdated pipes and service lines to safeguard public health and safety in rural communities
“This is exciting news for three rural Arizona communities, said Hays. The assistance provided today will increase access to safe, reliable water systems and helps to mitigate health risks for 1,060 rural residents.”
- The Yuma County Improvement District in southwestern Arizona is receiving a $529,000 loan and a $4.3 million grant develop and construct a new water treatment and distribution system for the rural community of Tacna.
This project will remove and replace the system's aging and low capacity pipes; including service connections to a former private system. The district will relocate a water storage tank and groundwater well away from the residential area.
Tacna's current system is more than 40 years-old and is beyond repair plus the community has been dealing with high arsenic levels since 2011. The water treatment and distribution system will ensure the 672 residents will have access to safe and reliable drinking water.
- The White Horse Ranch Owners Association in Yavapai County is receiving a $446,000 loan and a $1.2 million grant to design, purchase, construct and install an ion exchange nitrate removal system.
The White House Ranch community will also construct and install an easily accessible water hauler loading station with a small storage tank for families and individuals who live outside of the residential water system.
The 50-gallon-per-minute ion exchange system will reduce the amount of nitrates in the water to an allowable level and provide safe drinking water for 292 residents.
- Pinehurst Water Company is receiving a $358,000 loan and a $282,000 grant to replace the entire existing water distribution system and associated components for the rural community of Pinehurst in Yavapai County.
The Pinehurst Water Company will design, purchase, and install necessary components to replace the current system.
The components include the shut off and isolation valves, air release and blow-off valves, existing fire hydrants, two new fire hydrants, as well as meters and associated components creating safe and reliable drinking water for 96 residential connections.
To learn more about these and other resources for rural areas, contact the USDA Rural Development Arizona 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. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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