USDA wastewater project assists 26 states

10/7/2011

The USDA's Water and Environment Program provides loans, grants and guarantees in rural areas and cities or towns with 10,000 or fewer residents, according to the agency's website.

Funds may go towards drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities, as well as technical assistance and training to educate communities about their water problems.

The Republic reports that four rural towns in Nebraska were recent beneficiaries of USDA loans, and received a combined $1.9 million to upgrade their water systems.

The city of Walthill received $908,000 to replace its sewer treatment plant; Ashton obtained $700,000 to build a new lift station and wastewater treatment lagoons; Benkelman procured $139,000 - as well as an $11,000 grant - to build a new water treatment plant and install water meters while Wynot got $105,000 to replace the lining on two of its wells and build a well house for one of them.

According to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the funding will extend to 25 other states besides Nebraska, with hopes that wastewater systems will be improved and new jobs will be created, the Argus Leader reports.