Five Communities, Municipal and State Water Authority entities were awarded a total of $22.7 million
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2024 – Maximiliano J. Trujillo-Ortega, USDA Rural Development State Director for Puerto Rico, announced today awards for 5 projects to build, repair or replace essential infrastructure in rural communities impacted by disasters in calendar year 2022.
The Biden-Harris administration and USDA Rural Development continue to make available the necessary funds to strengthen the rural infrastructure in the archipelago of Puerto Rico following a natural disaster. These $22 million, in addition to the recently announced $9 million for repairs to rural community facilities and the $3.2 million for disaster home repairs showcases the efforts to improve the quality of life in the island’s rural areas.
State Director Trujillo-Ortega stated that; “It is important to note that these projects, by improving the infrastructure, assist in helping rural areas remain a place where families, communities and businesses can build and prosper where they live.”
Trujillo-Ortega indicated that the funding would provide the community of Acueducto Machuchal, located in the municipality of Patillas, inside a mountainous region of the island of Puerto Rico, the needed funds to repair their facility. The Community is composed by 30 families and are fully dependent on a Non-PRASA rural aqueduct for potable water.
The Community Association of the Oquendo Sector, in the Municipality of San Lorenzo, serves 80 residences with drinking water. This community suffered a decline in potable water due to damages caused by Hurricane Fiona. To ensure the safety, sustainability, and resilience of the water supply against future events, USDA Rural Development has committed funds to positively impact this rural community.
Building upon the previously awarded funding to the Juncos Municipality to address challenges to their landfill, State Director Trujillo stated that the Vegetative Waste Processing Facility addresses two important needs:
1) The Juncos Municipality, as well as the eastern and central regions of the island, have limited services regarding Vegetative Waste processing facilities and 2) the efficient disposal of yard waste for a sustainable waste management practice.
“With the proposed equipment, the Municipality of Juncos intends to operate a Vegetative Waste /yard waste management facility so that the Municipality can extend the lifespan of the new cell and prepare against future natural disasters.
The full list of selected rural projects are:
PRASA Anasco/Caracol-Sewer- $8,774,398.00. This Rural Development investment will be used to support Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority's completion of the Caracol sewer system within the Municipality of Añasco. This project will mitigate an existing health and sanitary condition due to the current capacity of the system and provide improved access to a sanitary sewer system to approximately 6,200 rural residents.
Vegetative Waste Processing Facility: Juncos Municipality $2,153,000.00 This Rural Development investment will be used to support the Municipality of Juncos in building the capacity of its municipal solid waste system to respond to natural disasters and process yard waste effectively. The project involves the purchase of a yard waste grinder, a hydraulic excavator, a truck, and the construction of a protective galvalume roof to house the purchased equipment. The objective of the project is to improve resiliency and enhance the municipal solid waste landfill's operations.
Disaster Water Grant Asociacion de Vecinos Del Sector Los Oquendo Bo Hato Arriba de San Lorenzo Inc. $475,000.00. this Rural Development investment will be used to help Asociacion de Vecinos del Sector Los Oquendo Inc. with a well pump station. The business serves drinking water to approximately 80 residences. They have a deep well as their water source. After Hurricane Fiona, the community suffered a decline in potable water, causing damages to their well station pump and task needed to comply with pertinent codes and permitting needed from regulatory agencies Department of Health and Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and compliance with the local and federal regulations and codes.
Disaster Acueducto Machuchal Corp- $175,000.00. This Rural Development investment will be used to relocate main pipeline to move away from the stream and areas susceptible to landslides due to the topography of the area and to do a well cleaning and rehabilitation of the water well to unclog areas and improve current decline. Acueducto Machuchal Corp serves 30 connections. Hurricane Fiona caused a nearby stream to alter its natural course, directly affecting the infrastructure of their main water network and compromising the integrity of the two-inch pipeline leading to the main storage tank. A notable decrease in the water production capacity of the well has been observed since the hurricane's passage, suggesting a partial collapse and compromising water provision.
Disaster Water Grant - Sewer Facilities PR Aqueduct & Sewer Authority $11,136,000.00. This Rural Development investment will be used to make emergency repairs. The 33 drinking sewer facilities reported damages caused by flooding, wind, flood transported debris, heavy and wind driven rain, wind driven debris, fallen trees, sediment accumulation, power loss and fluctuation. Due to all the reported damages to Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority’s sewer facilities, emergency repairs were made to service damaged facilities and control impact from the emergency.
Trujillo-Ortega indicated that the selected entities and municipalities have up to 3 years from the date of obligation.
Background
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunity, 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 access to high-speed Internet in rural, tribal, and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Portal to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov.
To subscribe to updates from USDA Rural Development, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page. You can follow us on our X @RD_PuertoRico account.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender