Accessing Public Health in Rural America
Acting Colorado Rural Development State Director Irene Etsitty announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $811,000 to modernize wastewater infrastructure in rural Colorado.
USDA is financing the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The program helps rural communities obtain the financing and technical assistance necessary to develop, maintain and improve drinking water and waste disposal systems. “The assistance provided to the Town of Hugo and Louviers Water and Sanitation District today will help mitigate health risks and increase access to safe, reliable sanitary waste disposal services for residents in these rural communities,” said Etsitty.
The projects awarded in Colorado are:
- The Town of Hugo in Eastern Colorado is receiving a $357,000 loan to complete their wastewater treatment plant project. The town's existing wastewater treatment system consists of two unlined lagoons that exceed effluent and are insufficient to treat current flow.
- Louviers Water and Sanitation District will replace their aging wastewater piping with a $100,000 loan and $185,000 grant from USDA Rural Development. The current system conveys wastewater to a treatment lagoon constructed in the 1960s. The new system will correct lagoon infiltration issues and ensure the 269 residents have reliable wastewater treatment for years to come.
Nationwide USDA is investing $307 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 34 states and Puerto Rico.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/co.