USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today celebrated Earth Day by visiting the City of Clarissa to recognize the newly funded $5.4 million project to improve the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
“This key investment is a great example of the importance of water and wastewater infrastructure in rural America,” said Landkamer. “USDA celebrates Earth Day each year by recognizing water and wastewater projects, because safe, clean drinking water and wastewater disposal are essential to the sustainability of rural communities and their surrounding environmental ecosystems. Additionally, modern infrastructure spurs economic development and is a major factor in sustaining long-term growth and development. I commend Clarissa city officials and everyone who had the vision to make this project happen.”
The city of Clarissa is receiving a $2,987,000 loan and a $1,234,000 grant through USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program (WEP), which provides technical assistance and financing to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems for communities with fewer than 10,000 residents.
The funding will help the city replace 22,000 feet of deteriorating watermain, resulting in poor water quality and disrupting service. The funding will also help to replace 10,100 feet of sewermain and corresponding manholes, which were found to have cracks, mineral deposits, sags, breaks, holes and roots. Without the new system, waters downstream from the plant could become contaminated, potentially harming human health and the environment.
“Much of Clarissa’s water and sewer system still consists of cast iron water mains and clay tile sewer, which has caused many issues such as broken water mains, sewer blockages, crumbling manholes, and water infiltration,” said Clarissa City Mayor Larry Cook. “With this financial help from USDA, we are able to replace this outdated system and still keep user fees affordable.”
Minnesota is one of 33 states celebrating Earth Day by visiting newly funded projects that will improve rural water quality and safety. Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is investing $183 million in 60 water and wastewater infrastructure projects through Rural Development's WEP program, including the city of Clarissa.
"Safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital not only to public health, but also to the economic vitality of small communities," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "Helping rural communities build and upgrade their water infrastructure is one more way USDA strengthens rural areas. Building and maintaining water infrastructure creates jobs, boosts the economy, and provides rural families with safe, reliable water and wastewater facilities that improve the environment."
Seventeen of the Earth Day recipients announced by the Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are receiving funding priority through a 2014 Farm Bill provision that encourages communities to adopt regional economic development plans. These projects are centered on collaboration and long-term growth strategies. They leverage outside resources and capitalize on a region's unique strengths.
One of these recipients, the Big Lake Area Sanitary District in Minnesota, is receiving a $2.9 million loan and a $4.5 million grant to convert what is currently individual on-site treatment into a pressure collection system and the pumping of wastewater to the direct connections of the regional treatment facility at Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. In a collaborative effort, the project will serve Perch Lake and Sawyer townships and the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation. Many of the current individual treatment systems are inadequate or failing.
The project supports the Fond du Lac Community Economic Development Plan, which highlights the importance of providing adequate wastewater treatment services and protecting the health and welfare of people who live or work on the reservation. Improving water quality will increase the fish population, which will boost local tourism revenue.
Funding for each project announced is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan, grant or loan/grant agreement.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#RD_Minnesota) has invested $343 million in water and wastewater infrastructure for rural communities throughout Minnesota, and over $6 billion across more than 40 programs, including housing, rural small business creation and development, renewable energy and energy efficiency, essential community facilities, telecommunications, and broadband. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn.