WASHINGTON — USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced loans and grants for 141 projects to build and improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural communities across the nation. In Maine three systems have been selected to receive a total of $10.6 million for essential upgrades.

In Maine, three systems have been selected to receive a total of $10.6 million for upgrades. Local communities include:

• Town of Wilton has been selected to receive a total of $4.1 million (Water and Waste Direct Loan of $2,750,000 and Water and Waste Grant of $1,350,000). Funds will be used for a cost-overrun. This project Rural Development funds are being used to upgrade the wastewater treatment system that has surpassed its 20 year expected useful life by approximately 12 years. If the wastewater treatment system were to fail due to the age or the inoperable, undersized, or obsolete technology it would potentially cause a discharge of untreated wastewater into Wilson Stream which is a prime brook trout stream. Also a failure of one of the systems 16 antiquated pump stations located along Wilson Pond could allow for a raw sewerage spill into Wilson Pond. This project will benefit 885 users.

• Town of Oxford has been selected to receive a total of $4.6 million (Water and Waste Direct Loan of $3,601,000 and Water and Waste Grant of $999,000). Funds will be used for a cost-overrun to the project. Rural Development funding is being used to build an entirely new wastewater treatment facility and collection system. This consists of a series of 7 pump stations, 48,350 linear feet of pipes, and a Membrane Bioreactor Waste System. The system was built with the needs of the current potential users and future capacity and economic development of the area and job creation in mind. This project will benefit 383 users.

USDA is awarding $299 million for 88 projects in the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program and $15 million for 53 grants in the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) program.

ECWAG grants enable water systems that serve eligible rural communities to prepare for, or recover from, imminent or actual emergencies that threaten the availability of safe drinking water. Water and Waste program recipients can use funds to construct water and waste facilities in rural communities.

Since 2009, USDA has helped provide improved water and wastewater services to nearly 18 million rural residents by investing $12.3 billion in 5,174 projects.

Funding of each award announced is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant and loan agreement.

USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for loans and grants to build rural water infrastructure. Applications may be completed online through RDAPPLY, a new electronic filing system, and at state and local Rural Development offices. Public entities (counties, townships and communities), non-profit organizations and tribal communities with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible to apply. Interest rates for this program are at historically low levels, ranging from 2 percent to 3.25 percent. Loan terms can be up to 40 years. For more information, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rd-apply.

FMI: http://www.rd.usda.gov/me.