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Success Stories

Smith Island, Maryland

Investing in Wastewater Infrastructure is Key to Preserving Smith Island, Maryland

For the people living on Smith Island, the water matters. But it’s about more than the beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay from the picturesque island ten miles from the mainland. The multi‐generational residents depend on the surrounding Chesapeake Bay for their livelihoods. For many, crabbing, oystering, and ecotourism are what puts dollars in their bank accounts, and food on their tables. In rural communities…
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Search Results: 26 Stories
Man standing next to lagoon

Cleaning Wastewater in Harlowton, Montana

Harlowton, Mont., a rural community which also serves as Wheatland County’s seat, modernized their wastewater system with assistance through USDA Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.  See how they used these funds to transition to UV technology… [Read More]
GrantsWastewaterWater
Lake Andes group photo

USDA Builds Sound Infrastructure for a Rural South Dakota Community

The City of Lake Andes recognized that two-thirds of the city sewer system was built in the 1920’s with vitrified clay pipe (VC) and brick manholes (MHs). The sewer system was experiencing a significantly high rate of infiltration and inflow causing the sanitary sewer system to… [Read More]
InfrastructureTribalWastewaterWater
Pine Ridge Lift Station

Reliable Infrastructure Provided to the Pine Ridge Community

Pine Ridge is the most populous community in Oglala Lakota County, SD with a population of 3,308. It is located inside the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is the tribal headquarters for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The lift station in Pine Ridge was in very poor condition with… [Read More]
GrantsInfrastructureTribalWastewaterWater
New Water Treatment Plant.

Bringing Clean, Drinkable Water Back to Shelby

How would you feel if your Village needed to provide clean and safe drinking water to its 284 residential and 31 non-residential water connections; and you didn’t know where or  how to correct the problem? Shelby’s water source contained high levels of arsenic that exceeded the… [Read More]
WastewaterWater
OMB

Developing New Markets for Waste

In 2004, Joel and Jean Garland began operating a value added wood products business. In little more than a decade that sawmill has adapted, innovated, persisted, and advanced, all while remaining grounded in the small rural community of Lillie, Louisiana. Joel identified… [Read More]
BusinessWastewaterWater

Energy Efficient Sewer Treatment Coupled with Environmental Balance

The Milton Regional Sewer Authority (MRSA) needed to improve and expand their existing sewer treatment plant. The Pennsylvania Department of  Environmental Protection (DEP) mandated that all communities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed comply with new lower standards for release… [Read More]
WastewaterWater

Mammoth Spring Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements

Outline Of Need: The City of Mammoth Spring is located in North Central Arkansas in Fulton County. They own and operate a public wastewater treatment facility. The City is positioned on a bluff overlooking the Spring River. The original wastewater treatment collection and… [Read More]
WastewaterWater
New Elva Strum WWTF

New Joint Commission Provides Improved Services to Residents

Residents and businesses in two northwestern Wisconsin communities now enjoy new public water and sewer service thanks to a partnership between the two communities and USDA Rural Development Both the Village of Eleva and the Village of Strum, located in Trempealeau County, were… [Read More]
WastewaterWater

Safe, Reliable Water Source Comes to East Henry County

After years of uncertainty about whether it was safe to drink their water or if there would be enough, residents in rural Eastern Henry County in West Tennessee will now have access to safe, reliable water.  Private groundwater well contamination and the lack of a public water… [Read More]
UtilitiesWastewaterWater
In 2015 USDA Rural Development worked with the town of Appomattox to fund a loan for $3.7 million and a grant for $1.8 million. The financial assistance allowed Appomattox to begin making vital repairs on its outdated sewer collection and treatment system

Sewer Repairs in Appomattox

When the town of Appomattox began inspecting its sewer collection and treatment system, which provides service to approximately 695 residential and 70 commercial connections, it found problems that were contributing to raw sewage overflows, incompliance with state code and… [Read More]
WastewaterWaterUtilities

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