Prairie City in eastern Oregon is receiving significant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to upgrade its wastewater system, announced State Director Vicki Walker during a visit to Prairie City. The project will replace aging components, enabling the wastewater system to continue serving this rural community of just over 900 people without significantly impacting user rates.
“Rural communities across the country are faced with the challenges of maintaining and upgrading their infrastructure,” said Walker. “This project will ensure adequate utilities for Prairie City, protect the environment, and help support the town’s sustained economic vitality.”
Many of the existing sanitary collection lines in Prairie City are 50 years old and beginning to fail. In addition, infiltration issues have been placing additional pressure on the system’s lagoons. With assistance from a USDA Rural Development loan of $1.28 million and a grant of $624,700 provided through the Water and Waste Disposal Program, Prairie City will replace failing collection main lines, manholes, and a portion of the force main. Six sewer lift station pumps and controls will be replaced. The funding will also enable the city to purchase maintenance equipment. In addition, USDA is refinancing a Department of Environmental Quality loan for prior system improvements, lowering the city’s interest rates.
Overall, this project will upgrade an aging wastewater system, improve pumping capacity and efficiency, decrease infiltration, and maintain reasonable user rates, providing fundamental utilities that will help this rural community thrive into the future.
Today’s funding builds on USDA’s historic investments in rural America over the past seven years. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#USDARD) has invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; help 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; fund nearly 7,000 community facilities, such as schools, public safety, and healthcare facilities; finance 180,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and help bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.