Local villages receive USDA drinking water, wastewater infrastructure grants

The Trump administration announced Monday that the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $462 million to modernize critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across rural America.

According to the USDA, 161 projects will benefit 467,000 individuals across the U.S., including Clearwater and Page residents.

"Upgrading the infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water and modern wastewater management facilities will improve public health and drive economic development in our small towns and cities," Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said. "Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner with rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives."

Clearwater will receive a loan of $311,000, and grant monies totaling $330,600 to provide additional financing for a sewer improvement project, including construction of a new lagoon.

According to the project description, the project will bring the village's current system up to health and sanitary standards, specifically the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System limits.

"Effluent from the village's one cell-controlled discharge lagoon is not able to meet the present permit levels making the village in violation of the Clean Water Act NPDES permit. The village is also having infiltration and inflow issues with the collection system, which results in high inaccurate wastewater flows for the village, causing more wear and tear on the system."

Suggested improvements include construction of a new three-cell lagoon system with a controlled discharge via land application, a combination of replacement and relining of the collection system and the installation of new water meters.

The existing lift station will be updated. The new lagoon system will put them back in compliance with the NPDES permit, and the collection system improvements and water meter installation will reduce the amount of infiltration and inaccurate readings of wastewater flows.

The Village of Page will receive a loan amounting to $40,000 along with a grant up $61,000 for improvements and upgrades to the current water system.

The USDA reports "the village has unaccounted for water and one of its two wells is not able to meet average and maximum day demand without treatment. The village does have a treatment plant. The village is not meeting certain applicable health or sanitary standards, specifically not having backup power," which would provide water storage in case of an emergency.

Improvements include updating equipment at the water treatment plant and well.

New meters will be installed and 2,200-linear feet of water mains, used for fire suppression, will be included in the grant.