Texas USDA Rural Development has announced grants are available through the Individual Water and Wastewater Program for households residing in an area recognized as a colonia before October 1, 1989. The colonia must also be located in a rural area (unincorporated areas and any city or town with a population not in excess of 10,000 inhabitants) and identified as a community designated in writing by the State or county in which it is located; determined to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, lack of decent, safe and sanitary housing, and inadequate roads and drainage.
"One of the goals of USDA Rural Development is to help provide rural Colonia areas with safe, dependable water and sewage systems," said Texas State Director Paco Valentin. "We are pleased to provide funding for projects that will ensure that Colonia residents have access to grant funds for the installation of indoor plumbing, as well as facilitate access to reliable water and wastewater facilities. These are basic necessities that can make communities with limited resources safe and healthy places to live."
Grant funds may be used to connect service lines to a residence, pay utility hook-up fees, install plumbing and related fixtures, i.e. bathroom sink, bathtub or shower, commode, kitchen sink, water heater, outside spigot, or bathroom, if lacking.
To qualify for the program, applicants must own and occupy their home, show income from all individuals residing in the home below the most recent poverty income guidelines established by the Department of Health and Human Services, and not be delinquent on any Federal debt. The maximum individual grant for water systems is $3,500 and for wastewater is $4,000 with a lifetime assistance maximum not to exceed $5,000 per individual.
Further information on the program is available by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/individual-water-wastewater-grants/tx or by calling the Texas State Office at (254) 742-9770.