USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today announced funding to make essential improvements to the water and wastewater infrastructure in the city of Hector.
“Clean, safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is essential for the continued growth and development of rural America,” said Landkamer. “USDA Rural Development’s Water and Wastewater Programs help rural communities achieve this goal.”
Installed between the 1930s and 1950s, the city of Hector’s current water distribution and wastewater collection systems have reached the end of useful life and are in need of many repairs. In addition, upgrades are needed for the city’s water treatment facility to continue to treat the high arsenic levels in the community’s well water.
Upgrades to the water distribution and wastewater collection systems and water treatment facility, along with a new 150,000 gallon water tower to replace the aged and undersized current tower, will help make the essential repairs necessary for the City to provide safe, clean drinking water to the more 1,100 residents of the surrounding community.
These upgrades will begin phase two of a two-part project totaling $11.3 million. Phase one began with improvements and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant with help from a $6,943,000 direct loan and a $2,793,000 grant through USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Programs (WEP).
Subsequent WEP funding to complete phase two comes in the form of a $1,183,000 direct loan and a $384,000 grant. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested over $343 million in loans and grants to build or improve over 300 water and wastewater treatment facilities throughout rural Minnesota.
Rural Development also invests in housing, community facilities, rural small businesses, renewable energy and broadband. To learn more about Rural Development programs, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn, or call the area office in Willmar, Minn. at (320) 235-3540, ext. 4.