Thursday, May 23 2013 3:02PM
Two Arizona towns will receive funds for community water projects.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors agreed to extend financing to the Elfrida Water Improvement District and the Bowie Water Department in Arizona, and the funds will help improve water system services in the aging districts, according to the Douglas Dispatch.
The supervisory committee said that while the projects will allow for quality upgrades that will help the two communities, the decision was difficult due to funding shortfalls and an increase in grant requests. The two projects will be funded with $170,000 from a Community Development Block Grant, the news source reports.
The supervisors noted that the water system in Elfrida is more than 60 years old, and the funds will be instrumental in covering the costs of repairs, cleaning and deepening the well and purchasing a new 50,000-gallon water tank and generator.
The Bowie water system requires more substantial work, as it is nearing 75 years of age and requires electrical work, pipe replacements and new equipment.The improvements are expected to assist more than 1,000 individuals in getting access to clean, filtered water.
Aging water systems can result in several problems for rural areas. Older pipes and tanks can become corroded over time, and result in impurities leaking into the water supply as well as external leaks that diminish a community's access to water.
For more information, check out this resource: The Douglas Dispatch