USDA Rural Development State Directors Dave Conine and Trudy Kareus together with representatives from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe broke ground today on four projects that will make essential improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure on the Tribal communities of White Mesa, Utah, and Towaoc, Colorado.
USDA is awarding a total of $9,019,474 to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to upgrade, expand, and rehabilitate the Tribe’s water and wastewater systems in Utah and Colorado. These projects will remedy unsafe levels of arsenic and distasteful sulphur, iron, and manganese in the drinking water supply. The current system of pipes and wells is failing and must be replaced.
The current wastewater systems in both White Mesa and Towaoc are in various stages of disrepair as well and require improvements to meet health and safety standards. The Tribe’s Utah and Colorado locations of White Mesa and Towaoc, respectively, will begin work on two projects each to address drinking water and wastewater improvements.
USDA’s Rural Utilities Service offers infrastructure programs that bring broadband, safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment facilities to rural communities. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD ) has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. USDA also has invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.