USDA to provide $352m for rural water infrastructure

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $352m in loans and grants to upgrade and improve water and wastewater systems in the country, and in rural Alaska villages.

Around $175m will be offered as loans by USDA, while $165m will be provided in the form of grants through the federal Water and Environmental Program.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said: "These investments are critical for our health and safety, and in the long term for sustainable economic development.

"Investments like these in the nation’s water infrastructure also are critical to address the impact of climate change on our water supplies.

"The projects supported with these resources will ensure rural families have access to clean water and create jobs in communities across the country."

Buckland city in Alaska will receive a $45,000 grant for analysing costs of preliminary engineering and environmental reports at an intended solid waste site.

USDA will provide a $7.8m loan and a $2.5m grant to Edgerton in Wisconsin for upgrading a 31-year-old water treatment plant, in order to comply with discharge limits specified by the Department of Natural Resources.

Six other grants totalling $12.1m have been announced for infrastructure improvements in rural villages in Alaska.

The loan and grant are part of USDA’s $1.5bn investments on rural water and wastewater projects in 2014.

The federal department has spent more than $10m for improvement of water and waste systems in drought-affected regions of rural California.