Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the funding of projects in 20 states designed to protect public health by improving water quality and public sanitation services, including a grant in Rhea County.
The projects, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), are expected to provide construction jobs and create infrastructure needed to support community growth, officials said.
"Water and wastewater projects are moving forward in rural communities across the country and thanks to the Recovery Act, investments in water and wastewater infrastructure will help deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment throughout rural America," said Vilsack.
"Through these projects, we are advancing the Obama Administration’s economic recovery goals to rebuild and revitalize the nation’s infrastructure. They will create urgently needed jobs when they are built and will support more job creation through rural economic development for years to come."
In Tennessee three projects will alleviate water treatment and distribution issues in Carter, Gibson and Rhea counties.
Hampton Utility District in Carter County will use a low interest loan of $695,000 and grant of $288,000 to replace about 2.5 miles of water line and 53 service connections originally installed in the late 1960s along US 321 between Hazelwood Hollow Rd. and US Forest Service property at Shook Branch and Carden's Bluff Campground. Sharp curves and mountainous terrain make repairs along the heavily travelled highway particularly hazardous.
The City of Dyer in Gibson County will use a $405,000 low interest loan and $71,000 grant to fund the emergency installation of two new 500 GPM wells to replace two of the city's three existing water sources now failing due to age and mineral obstruction. Dyer will also extend water and sewer service along the US 45 By-pass to the West Tennessee Expo Center.
North Utility District of Rhea County (NUDR) will use a $660,000 low interest loan and $420,000 grant to develop a 500 GPM water supply and treatment facility. NUDR currently relies on water pumped from Spring City. Because the system is spread out, the treated water frequently experiences contaminant levels elevated above state specifications. Developing two sources at either end of the interconnected systems will also lessen the impact on both communities of periodic drought in the area.
The total loan and grant funding announced today supports 60 projects and totals $159 million. To date, USDA has announced $2.3 billion in Recovery Act funds for water and environmental projects. The Recovery Act was signed into law by President Obama one year ago.