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USDA Grant Helps City of Sodaville Recover from Drought

Name
Erin McDuff
City
Portland
Release Date

Despite the heavy winter rains, many rural Oregon communities are still contending with the effects of the recent drought that ravaged the western U.S. The City of Sodaville in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, for example, experienced plummeting water levels in the wells that supply their drinking water. Today, the town is receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to improve its water system and increase production, announced State Director Vicki Walker.

“The recent, devastating drought has strained the resources of many rural communities as their traditional water sources have become less reliable,” said Walker. “This grant is just one step USDA is taking to help ensure those living in our rural communities have the resources they need to access clean, safe drinking water.”

Sodaville residents receive their water from five wells. One of those wells has experienced iron bacteria problems since it was drilled and is not a significant contributor to the town’s water supply. The other four wells have struggled in recent years to produce enough water for the city’s consumption needs. Last year, beginning in July, well production began to slow as a result of the drought and the dropping aquifer in the area. The system operator rested the pumps for longer periods of time to allow the wells to recharge before their next use. Nevertheless, by August, production was low enough that the city’s water reservoir level began to drop and the city adopted water use restrictions. In September, the water level dropped low enough that system pressure was threatened. To meet demand and maintain pressure, the city began trucking in water from the neighboring town of Lebanon.

With assistance from a USDA Rural Development grant of $129,475 provided through the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant Program, the City of Sodaville will make improvements to all five wells. The pump intake in two of the wells will be lowered. A liner will be installed in one well and extended in another. The iron bacteria issue in the fifth well will be resolved. Additionally, a dedicated water level sounding tube will be installed to help monitor water availability. Overall, this project will increase production, improving the water supply for this rural community of 325 people and enabling the city to overcome the lingering effects of the drought and meet the needs of its residents for years to come.

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 180,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and help bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.