USDA Rural Development State Director Tom Williams announced the completion of the Oxford Area Sewer Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant and related upgrades. The project totals $32 million, with $27 million of the total funding coming from USDA and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Williams said, “This project is not only important for the Oxford area, but the region as a whole benefits by helping to eliminate the flow of nutrients into our streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.”
Rural Development funds were used for the construction of a 39.4 million gallon storage lagoon to increase water storage capabilities and also for the construction of additional spray irrigation fields. The funds were also used to build a new wastewater treatment plant that involved the construction of a new headworks building, operations building, dewatering building, tanks, and other additional piping and improvements. These improvements and increased storage capacity will allow the Authority to serve 3,278 users in East and West Nottingham Townships, Lower Oxford Township, and the Oxford Borough.
Safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital not only to public health, but also to the economic vitality of rural America. For a full list of Water and Environmental Programs, visit the Rural Development website at www.rd.usda.gov/pa.
President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.