NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 27, 2020 - The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $891 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 43 states. Tennessee Rural Development State Director Jim Tracy is pleased to announce rural Tennessee will invest more than $11.8 million in wastewater infrastructure.
“It is our commitment to partner with rural communities to improve reliable water and wastewater infrastructure,” Tracy said. “These investments will improve the functionality of water systems, improve public health and safety, and create jobs for our rural neighbors.”
These 220 projects will help improve rural water infrastructure for 787,000 residents. The projects are being funded through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.
Background:
The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.
For example, as part of today’s announcement in Tennessee:
- Smith Utility District will use a $1.2 million loan to replace the aged water main down Main Street in Gordonsville. This project will save Smith Utility District's customers from the costs of frequent and costly repairs to this section of the system. Moreover, by moving this line out of the road the repaving costs for future repairs will be much lower.
- Gibson County Municipal Water District will use a $545,000 loan to construct a water treatment plant in the Goat City area of Gibson County Municipal Water District's service area, as well as install Automated Read Meters throughout the system. Currently, the Goat City area has a higher demand than the existing water plant can sustain. The need to keep the existing plant in service and construct a new plant is the most efficient and financially reasonable choice. The new plant will include a new clear well, two high service pumps, an aerator, two new wells, and controls. The plant will be sized to meet current and future demands.
- The Town of Atwood will use a $1.2 million loan to fund water system improvements to the town of Atwood. The town has proposed the construction of a new water supply well, rehabilitating equipment at the water treatment plant and rehabbing a 50,000-gallon elevated storage tank.
- Double Springs Utility District will use a $2.5 million loan to replace approximately 35,000 linear feet of aging water lines within the distribution system. The proposed water line replacement is anticipated to be a combination of 12-inch thru 2-inch class 350 ductile iron and Standard Dimension Rate 21 Polyvinyl chloride water lines and will be installed on private easement and existing public rights-of-way along SR 291, Hwy 70, West Gate, Double Springs, Buffalo Valley and Flatt Roads, along with College Street. Benefits associated with the proposed transmission main are the replacement of problem water lines, the removal of a portion of the District's asbestos cement lines from service, and the bolstering of service for future growth.
- The City of Crossville will use a $419,500 loan to construct a new 500,000-gallon elevated storage facility. This tank site will be located north of I-40 just off Hwy 127N. This region is one of the fastest growing regions of Crossville's water system. Furthermore, no additional storage has been added to this region in 15 years. Project completion will provide this region of the Crossville distribution system with more than 24-hour storage during peak demand and approximately 48 hours during normal demand days. The proposed project will require minimum piping to extend to the proposed tank site.
- North Stewart Utility District will use a $1.9 million loan and $375,000 grant to make improvements to the water system of North Stewart Utility District. Specifically, the project will replace approximately 23,000 linear feet of existing water line, improve the water treatment process at the water treatment plant and build a new pump station. The project will improve the quality of drinking water for all 4,907 people using the water system.
- Holston Utility District will use a $2.3 million loan and $787,900 grant to construct 20,660 linear feet of 10-inch and smaller water line and associated appurtenances, one new pump station, one 130,000-gallon water storage tank, two pressure reducing valves and vaults, one pressure reducing/sustaining valve and vault, and system wide telemetry. In addition, improvements will include the upgrade of one water pump station, replacement of all customer service meters, and replacement of approximately 9,850 linear feet of 6-inch and smaller waterline.
- The Town of Bulls Gap will use a $353,000 loan to connect 40 new sewer users. The town's wastewater is collected and conveyed through a combination of pressure and gravity sewers that discharge to a central lift station. The majority of the town's sewer collection system is outdated and in need of being updated. A grinder pump station would be installed at each home, and grinder pump effluent would tie into a force main collection system. This would require installation of approximately 7,800-LF of four-inch and smaller force main sewer, 40 grinder pump stations at homes, and a lift station.
These USDA investments are going to Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/tn.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.