DES MOINES — Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley today announced that USDA is investing $192 million in 71 projects located across 29 states to improve rural water infrastructure. Nine of those projects, totaling $15.3 million, are assisting residents living in rural Iowa communities, including Blairsburg and Ellsworth.

USDA is making the $192 million investment through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Rural communities, water districts and other eligible entities can use the funds for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.

Grant Menke, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, announced the following investments assisting rural Iowans:

n The city of Blairsburg, population 215, is receiving a $660,000 loan and $300,000 grant to improve its wastewater system. The project will construct a new lift station and a new transmission line from the lift station to the lagoon. The current lift station has insufficient pumping capacity and does not meet current design standards. As a result, wastewater backs up into basements and discharges through the top of manholes throughout the community.

n The city of Ellsworth, population, 531, is receiving a $300,000 loan and $100,000 grant to provide additional financing for a stormwater improvement project. The project will alleviate reoccurring localized flooding in the community and will address health and safety concerns and property damage.

n The city of Sigourney (Keokuk County), Iowa, population 2,059, is receiving a $3,850,000 million loan to update its wastewater treatment system. The city will purchase a back-up generator, install a new aeration system and construct a submerged, activated growth reactor system. These improvements will enable the system to meet new ammonia limits set by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

n Squaw Valley South Subdivision (Story County) (aka South Squaw Valley Association) is receiving a $1,400,000 loan to demolish their wastewater treatment plant and replace it with an activated sludge treatment plant. The new plant will replace a nearly 40-year-old facility that is quickly deteriorating and nearing the end of its useful life. The plant will also meet new ammonia and disinfection requirements set by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

n The city of Kimballton (Audubon County), population, 322, is receiving a $1,461,000 loan and $1,400,000 grant to make significant capital improvements to its municipal water system. Funds from this project will be used to replace water mains, install new piping to create a looped distribution system, construct a 50,000-gallon elevated storage tower, purchase a back-up generator and make various repairs and updates to the water treatment plant. These improvements will update the city’s aging infrastructure and improve water pressure throughout the community. 

n The city of Lewis (Cass County), population 433, is receiving a $1,041,000 loan and $1,000,000 grant to improve its wastewater collection system, including spot repairs in 14 locations, lining 5,000 feet of pipe, repairing manholes, constructing a third cell in the lagoon and adding ultra-violet disinfection to the treatment system. The repairs and new treatment will help the city meet new Iowa Department of Natural Resources testing limits.

n The city of Massena (Cass County), population 414, is receiving a $925,000 loan and $927,000 grant to improve its wastewater treatment facility. The lagoons will be updated with a submerged attached growth reactor system, and ultraviolet disinfection will be installed. Without these repairs and updates, the treatment facility will fail to meet new compliance limitations for ammonia-nitrogen and E. coli.

n The city of Dow City (Crawford County), population 510, is receiving a $557,000 loan to construct a new well. Both of the city’s current wells will be taken out of service because water from them contains high nitrate levels. The new well will ensure city residents have access to safe and reliable drinking water.

n The city of Martensdale (Warren County), population 465, is receiving a $1,000,000 loan and $400,000 grant to improve its sanitary collection system to reduce excessive inflow and infiltration. The project will consist of sewer main and manhole rehabilitation and/or replacement, lining approximately 6,000 feet and replacing the trunk main to the treatment facility with 15-inch pipe.