U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that rural areas in 19 states will receive $116.9 million in water and environmental project loans and grants through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  

The Wysox Municipal Authority in Towanda, Pa., will receive a $1.9 million loan to provide safe drinking water to the city’s 480 residents.  According to the USDA, the community currently has no public water system and is currently susceptible to contamination with bacteria and organic and inorganic chemicals.

Another fund recipient is the West Dallas Water Authority in Selma, Ala., which will receive a $1.2 million loan and $1.8 million grant to expand the water system in Dallas County.  Through the expansion, approximately 100 new residential customers in an unserved area of Dallas County will be provided with potable drinking water.  

Overall, the USDA has announced $2.08 billion for Recovery Act water and environmental project loans and grants for projects across the country.

USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program will administer the Recovery Act funds in the following sates:  Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,  Massachusetts, Michigan, Minesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.

More information regarding the rural water projects can be found here