USDA to invest $1.2bn to improve water infrastructure in 46 states

USDA has announced its plans to invest $1.2bn to help improve and renovate water infrastructure in rural areas of 46 states, a move that is expected to benefit 936,000 people.

The agency, through Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant programme, is offering finance to 234 water and environmental infrastructure projects.

The financing will help in providing drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems to cater to rural communities that have 10,000 residents or even fewer.

Secretary for Rural Development assistant Anne Hazlett said: “Access to water is a key driver for economic opportunity and quality of life in rural communities.”

The investments are made in rural communities of  Arkansas, Arizona, Alaska, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, California,  Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, etc.

In the state of Pennsylvania, the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Berlin is securing a $2.5m loan, which will help to replace the primary water transmission line.

This line was constructed in 1979, and serves almost 1,100 users of the Berlin Municipal Water System.

The Todd County Water District of Kentucky, which serves 3,000 customers, is securing a loan of $3.2m as well as a grant of $390,000 to build two miles of water line and a water storage tank with a capacity of 500,000 gallon.

The Bond Water Association of Winston County, Mississippi, is getting a $1.4m loan to modernise its water system. The association will construct a 300-gallon-per-minute well and replace 28,200ft of distribution lines.

Communities and water districts can apply online on the RD Apply tool, or through one of state and field offices of USDA Rural Development.