USDA Invests $12 Million in Rural Water Infrastructure Improvements in Texas

(UC) — State Director for Rural Development Edd Hargett announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $12 million to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural communities in Texas. 

USDA is funding the projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.

“USDA understands that safe and reliable water infrastructure is vital for our rural communities,” Hargett said. “The investments announced today demonstrate our commitment to improving essential water and wastewater services that will enhance the prosperity of rural Texans.”   

Eligible applicants include rural cities, towns and water districts. The funds can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities that meet population limits. 

Below are the water and wastewater projects in rural communities that will receive funding in Texas:

• Anderson County Cedar Creek Water Supply Corporation will use a $265,000 loan and $239,000 grant to upgrade their infrastructure by replacing the pump house and treatment facilities and adding a generator to the remote well site and improvement to distribution lines. This will bring the water system up to current Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulations.
• The City of Rockport will use a $454,000 loan and $323,000 grant to construct a new 16-inch force main from Woodland Street to the wastewater treatment plant. The existing 12-inch force main is at capacity. Adding this second 16-inch force main will increase the capacity of the northside service and provide more reliability to maintain the health and safety of the area.
• Lake Bonanza Water Supply Corporation will use a $2,064,000 loan to bring a secondary well online by drilling a new well into the Jasper Aquifer.
• Leagueville Water Supply Corporation will use a $315,000 loan to provide additional financing for improvements to the system to increase capacity. The proposed facility consists of removing the pump station, pressure tank and storage tank at the Farm to Market Road plant site and constructed a standpipe and distribution improvements.

For application or eligibility information, view the interactive RD Apply tool or contact one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices.

In April 2017, President Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities.

In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump.

These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America.

Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to support infrastructure improvements, business development, housing, community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care and high-speed internet access in rural areas.

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