US agriculture department approves funds to address water shortage in Iowa

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has approved funds for the West Central Iowa Rural Water Association, to address the water shortage in Iowa that occurred as a result of a summer drought in 2012.

West Central Iowa Rural Water Association will receive over $3.7m in loans and grants to support the rural water system and additional obtain water supply to address the shortage.

The funds have been announced as part of the USDA’s effort to strengthen rural economy.

Rural Development state director Bill Menner said the department is helping and supporting the West Central Iowa Rural Water Association to deal with the effects of drought during summer.

"These funds will help ensure an adequate supply of quality potable water is available to thousands of rural Iowans," Menner added.

In addition, the association will get $500,000 through USDA Rural Development’s Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) programme, to assist and support rural community water systems that have declined considerably in terms of quantity or quality of potable water.

ECWAG funds will be used to get additional water supply from the City of Denison and drill new wells in the Nishnabotna aquifer.

The rural water association will also get a USDA loan of $3.2m to upgrade lines, pump station alterations, and build an elevated water storage tank to benefit almost 3,000 rural residents and businesses in the region.

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Image: The US Department of Agriculture building in Washington D.C. Photo: Courtesy of Dlz28.