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Illinois Village of Franklin Water Upgrade

Name
Kate O'Hara
City
Franklin
Release Date

The Village of Franklin’s water distribution system was built in the 1930’s, when a gallon of gas cost 10 cents and the average income per year was about $1,800. Today, Village and USDA Rural Development officials closed on an $815,000 loan/grant package to provide clean, safe water for Franklin’s residents through a water main replacement project.

“Many small communities are faced with aging infrastructure and high replacement costs,” said Dwight Reynolds, USDA Rural Development Area Director for West Central Illinois.  “This long-term, low-interest funding will allow the necessary repairs while keeping rate increases affordable for the users.”

The existing water mains in Franklin are prone to breaking and water loss. The project, modest in size, cost and design, involves water main replacement at four locations, totaling 8,000 feet within the Village of Franklin’s city limits and transferring 74 water services to the replacement water mains. The engineering firm for the project is Benton & Associates, Inc. and work is expected to begin in a few weeks.   Franklin purchases water from the City of Jacksonville and has the capability to purchase water from Scott-Morgan-Greene Water Coop in an emergency situation.  In 2014, the Village replaced their 1930s era 50,000 gallon storage tank with a 125,000 tank.

The USDA Rural Development Water & Waste Water Disposal program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.  For more information go to https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-waste-disposal-loan-grant-program.