USDA Rural Development Area Director Mark Hultgren today recognized the City of Koshkonong for their diligence in pursuing an Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) of $500,000. The funds allowed the city to drill a new well to replace a well that had been damaged as the result of earthquake activity.
“Having an up-to-date water source is very important to the livelihood of any community,” said Hultgren. “The City of Koshkonong could not have foreseen the damage caused by the earthquake activity. We are glad the City was proactive and sought assistance to replace the well and ensure the residents of the community have continued access to safe and reliable water.”
The earthquake activity caused a casing to collapse and the well began pumping mud. The project consisted of drilling a new well on the site where the water tank is located and installing a new well house, pump, and controls to resolve the problem in order to continue providing safe reliable water to the 212 residents of Koshkonong. As of now, the project has reached substantial completion. The new water well and pump are in service.
The ECWAG program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Further information on additional programs is available by visiting the USDA Missouri Rural Development website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/mo. Interested parties may also contact the West Plains Sub-Area Office at (417) 256-7117, Ext 4.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $216 billion in loans and loan guarantees. 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.