USDA Invests $43.4 Million to Build and Improve Critical Rural Infrastructure in 13 Kansas Communities
Funding Will Expand Access to Clean Water and Dependable Electric Power in Homes and Businesses in Rural Areas
TOPEKA, Dec. 16, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director for Kansas Dan Fischer today announced that USDA is investing $43,431,700 to modernize the critical drinking water infrastructure in towns and counties across Kansas.
“Upgrading the infrastructure that delivers safe drinking water will improve public health and drive economic development in our small towns and cities,” Fischer said. “USDA is dedicated to rural communities and their long-term commitments to economic prosperity; because when rural America prospers, all of America prospers.”
Background:
These Kansas investments are part of a larger national announcement involving 46 states and Puerto Rico. The programs from which Kansas will benefit are Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program, Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants and Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program.
The details of the Kansas projects are:
- ($2,050,000 loan and $290,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will rehabilitate the sewer system in Chetopa. A partial repair was completed in 2010. The unrepaired areas have rain water entering through cracks and breaks in the collection mains causing sewage back up in residential properties. The repairs will complete the rehabilitation of the system and include approximately 888 vertical feet of manhole repair, 275 service tap repairs, 50 point repairs, and 34,000 feet of fold and form liner or cast-in-place pipe.
- ($771,000 loan) This Rural Development investment will provide water improvements for the City of Nortonville. This project represents the second phase of the rehabilitation of the existing water system where two-thirds of the distribution system was previously replaced. The proposed project will replace an abandoned well and replace the remaining 1.5 mile portion of cast iron waterline with 9,300 feet of 4-inch PVC pipe, construct two new wells with chemical feed buildings, and includes 185 new meters, 90 meter settings, 14 valves, and 9 fire hydrants.
- ($272,000 loan and $$1,229,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will be used for construction of a new water well, standpipe and distribution system for the City of Vermillion. The current cast iron pipe infrastructure was installed in 1936 and most of the valves are underneath several inches of asphalt and cannot be located. The city’s current water tower needs repainting. Several fire hydrants leak badly when they are in use. The residential water has poor taste and odor. This project will be the first phase of the rehabilitation of the existing water system, which is to include construction of new supply wells, a new stand pipe for water storage, installing approximately 2,500 linear feet of force main, 1,600 linear feet of pipe to connect new storage tank to existing distribution system, and dismantle the existing elevated storage tank.
- ($1,011,000 loan and $261,000grant) This Rural Development investment will provide improvements to the City of Mullinville‘s water distribution system. The existing water tower is over 70 years old. The project will consist of installation of 13,900 linear feet of six-inch water line, 900 linear feet of eight-inch line, 64 valves, 98 water service connections and 17 fire hydrants. This will improve the water pressure and increase reliability of the water system.
- ($1,262,00 loan and $534,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will be used to start repairing the City of Highland‘s water distribution system. This phase of the project will construct a new Ion Exchange Treatment Plant.
- ($998,000 loan and $492,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will construct and improve the City of Neodesha’s water distribution system. The project will provide the city with a 200,000 gallon elevated water storage tank, upgrade an existing elevated storage tank, and install approximately 12,000 linear feet of 12 inch water line and approximately 2.700 linear feet of eight inch water line. Repairs to the Fall River dam will also be made and other infrastructure improvements.
- ($9,444,000 loan and $3,096,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will be used to construct and improve Neosho’s Rural Water District No. 4’s water distribution system. The district’s original system was installed in 1965. The district experiences leaks, high pressure loss and loss of water. The proposed project includes a new booster pump station, construction of a 400,000 gallon elevated storage tank and installation of new water supply lines.
- ($250,000 loan) This Rural Development investment will replace and improve Dickinson County Rural Water District No. 1‘s water systems. The project, currently under construction, is to replace roughly 400,000 feet of water line, 74 gate valves, 18 flush hydrants and repairs to three storage tanks. Rural Development previously awarded a $2,319,000 loan and a $1,305,000.00 grant to complete the project. Due to changes during construction, these additional funds are needed to complete the project.
- ($74,000 loan and $$360,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will construct water services to new customers of Linn County Rural Water District No. 2. Currently the water district doesn’t have the existing capacity to provide water to upwards of 100 potential new customers. The project will install nearly five miles of water line, 40 service meters, 24 galvanized valves and a new 50,000 gallon elevated storage tank.
- ($1,771,000 loan and $649,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will repair the City of Mankato‘s existing water distribution system. The current system is believed to be 100 years old or more. The proposed project is the first of a multi-phased plan to improve the City’s water system. This phase will replace about 30 percent of the City’s water lines, associated valves and hydrants.
- ($10,222,000loan and $7,283,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will construct and expand the City of Linn Valley’s water system. The city entered into an agreement in April 2019 to purchase potable water from the city of LaCygne, contingent upon the completion of this project. This project consists of 20,700 feet force main to be installed between the two cities, 147,730 feet of pipe for the distribution system, 244 hydrants and the construction of a 250,000 gallon elevated water storage tank.
- ($668,000 loan and $398,000 grant) This Rural Development investment will replace a section of waterlines for the City of Caney. This project received previous funding from Rural Development in the amounts of a $2,741,000.00 loan and two grants for $265,000.00 and $600,000 on Aug. 29, 2018, and another $693,000.00 loan on May 19, 2020. This additional funding is needed to cover costs associated with replacement of the additional water lines found during the excavation and repairing of existing waterlines.
- ($46,700 grant) This Rural Development investment will provide technical assistance and training through Kansas State University to rural state parks in with an emphasis on food waste reduction and proper management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) containing waste. These funds will serve communities of 5,500 and less in ten Kansas counties.
- Four Kansas counties: Morton, Seward, Barber and Harper will benefit from an Oklahoma centric investment to the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative. These four counties receive some of their generated electricity from the this Electric Cooperative.
