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Town of Charleston in Rural Oregon Receives $8.5 Million from USDA for New Wastewater Treatment Plant

Name
Erin McDuff
City
Portland
Release Date

The town of Charleston on the Oregon coast is receiving $8.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to replace an aging wastewater treatment plant, announced State Director Vicki Walker today.

“The construction of new infrastructure is essential for the health and prosperity of towns across rural America, but it can place a tremendous financial strain on small, rural communities,” said Walker. “I am proud to announce the award of significant funding from USDA for this project, which will ensure adequate utilities for Charleston residents, protect local shellfish beds, and help support the town’s sustained economic vitality.”

Through a long-standing arrangement, the Charleston Sanitary District pumps its untreated wastewater to the City of Coos Bay for processing. However, the Coos Bay treatment plant no longer has sufficient capacity, which could lead to secondary health issues due to discharges impacting local shellfish beds in the Coos River Estuary. Charleston Sanitary District will pay for its proportional share of the cost to replace this aging facility with assistance from a USDA Rural Development loan of $5 million and a grant of $3.5 million provided through the Water and Waste Disposal Program.

With the help of today’s funding, the old facility will be demolished. A new influent pump station will be constructed. The wastewater will be treated using a sequencing batch reactor that will be included in the new facility. The treated effluent will then undergo ultraviolet disinfection before it is discharged into the Coos River Estuary. Additionally, a five-mile force main will be installed to pump the sludge to a secondary plant for anaerobic digestion.

Overall, this project will replace an aging facility, expand capacity to meet increasing demand, help protect the environment, and ensure that essential utilities continue to be provided to local residents, helping this rural community of approximately 4,180 people thrive.

Today’s funding builds on USDA’s historic investments in rural America over the past seven years. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#USDARD) has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; help 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; fund nearly 7,000 community facilities, such as schools, public safety, and healthcare facilities; finance 185,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and help bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov/results.