Nebraska USDA Rural Development State Director Maxine Moul and staff celebrated Earth Day with the City of Tilden today with an Earth Day program at Elkhorn Valley Schools in Tilden. A plaque was presented to Mayor Leo Botsford for receiving the funding of more than $3.6 million for a new Village wastewater system.
"Today's announcement is one part of USDA's efforts to strengthen the rural economy," said Moul. "Sanitary living conditions are vital to rural America, and this project will serve the City well into the future."
USDA funds will be used to construct a new four-celled lagoon with appurtenances and provide upgrades to the lift station. Water meters will be installed for all the users and include radio-read equipment. Computer and billing software will also be included in the upgrade package.
The town of 953 residents was utilizing its original system constructed in the 1920s. The system is made up of vitrified City Pipe. The pipe was installed in trenches that were dug by hand and pipe sections that were three feet in length, and the joints were constructed at the time of the original system. A section that serves the area North of Highway 275 was built in 1984. The section that served as a housing addition located in the south part of town was built in 1988. This system provides service to 435 customers. The main lift station was constructed in 1984, the lift station includes a macerator, manual bar screen, three extended shaft dry well pumps a Parshall Flume, and an ultrasound transduced to measure flow. The satellite lift station was rebuilt in 2004.
"Thanks to the USDA's grant to help us build a new lagoon system, it will ensure we dispose of our wastewater in a way that is not harmful to our earth," said Mayor Leo Botsford, City of Tilden. "On Earth Day, we celebrate our planet and make an extra push to keep it clean, as well as preserve it for future generations."
For additional information contact USDA Rural Development Community Programs Specialist Janice Stopak at (402) 437-5743 or janice.stopak@ne.usda.gov. Visit www.rd.usda.gov/ne to learn more about programs offered by Rural Development. To view a list of Nebraska contact information, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices/ne.
President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses, and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, small towns, and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.