Residents of the City of Colchester and surrounding rural community will benefit from essential upgrades to their sewer system, thanks to more than $4 million of loans and grants through USDA Rural Development.
Colchester is currently under an Administrative Order issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to correct deficiencies in their sewer system to comply with discharge requirements. The existing pipe and connections allow excessive inflow and infiltration into the system and improper storm water cross connections contribute to a high volume of sewage fed to the area’s two lift stations. It also causes backup into homes.
“While an efficient sewer system is essential to a community’s infrastructure and to the health, safety and welfare of the public – a multi-million dollar project is enormously difficult and sometimes impossible for a small community to manage,” said Colleen Callahan, Illinois Rural Development Director. “This project is a perfect example of how Rural Development loans and grants are designed to help a community accomplish what they could not do alone.”
To rectify the deficiencies, sewer pipe will be re-lined where possible with cure-in-place plastic and connections sealed. A storm sewer conveyance system will be installed that will re-route water inflows to other points of discharge. Installation of the biological treatment process at the lagoons will help maintain water temperature and keep the treatment process stable.
The total project cost of $4,192,750.00 includes a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER); additionally, Rural Development is providing $2,489,000 in loan and $1,688,750 in grant to fund the project.
USDA Rural Development administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.