Friday, Jul 8 2011 3:25PM
USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Programs provide funding to help supply drinking water for small rural communities.
Terry Brunner, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development state director for New Mexico, visited the towns of Santa Clara and Hanover on July 7 to see the progress made on three projects funded by the government agency, the Silver City Sun-News reports.
According to the paper, two of the projects Brunner visited included the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Santa Clara and the expansion of a water system in Hanover that connects with the town of Bayard.
The sewage plant was funded with a $1 million Colonias Grant and $230,000 from the USDA Rural Development's Water and Environmental Programs (WEP). The water system improvements in Hanover, meanwhile, were also funded with a $426,400 WEP grant.
The new water system comes at a good time, local officials told the newspaper, and Brunner agreed.
"We're seeing disruptions to water service - due to the recent drought in the area - and to see that we can provide a consistent and dependable service in times of emergency is good," Brunner told the newspaper.
WEP provides funding for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage plants in rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less.