U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Invests in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in 31 States

Name
Stephanie Bittiker
City
Columbia
Release Date

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy today announced that USDA is investing $201 million to improve rural water infrastructure in 31 states.

   “Modern, reliable and accessible infrastructure is critical to economic development and quality of life,” LaVoy said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to partnering with rural communities to help them improve their infrastructure, because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

   USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Eligible applicants include rural cities, towns and water districts. The funds can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

   USDA is announcing investments today in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

   Below are projects announced today in South Carolina.

• The Town of Pageland, S.C. is receiving a $4.2 million loan and a $4.5 million grant to improve its sewer system.  The improvements will help the town comply with a state-mandated consent order to provide reliable wastewater treatment.  This will help Pageland meet current and future regulatory standards and provide for future growth.  Without Rural Development’s assistance the town would be unable to finance this project. 

• Laurens County, S.C. is receiving $1.7 million loan and a $3.8 million grant to construct a new treatment plant and intake for the county.  This investment will improve the county’s water system by providing a long-term, sustainable and safe, water supply.  This will support residential growth and industrial development for a population of roughly 39,596. 

• The town of McCormick is receiving a $1 million loan and $319,000 grant to improve their water system.  This phase will include an activated carbon system and a potassium permanganate system.  This will reduce any potential issues in the water system pertaining to total trihalomethanes and will benefit nearly 2,800 users.  In addition, the town is receiving a $544,000 loan and a $181,000 grant for new water distribution lines, a new elevated tank and will allow for the demolition of the old water treatment facility. 

   USDA awarded nearly $1.8 billion for Water and Environmental Program loans and grants during fiscal year 2019. View the interactive RD Apply tool or contact one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices for application or eligibility information.

   In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

   To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
 

  USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/sc.