USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein joined USDA Rural Development Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul and staff in commemorating Earth Day last month with the residents of the City of Bayard, Nebraska. The event celebrated the recent financing of a water improvement project that will serve the 1,200 residents of the city.
A water pipe was signed by each person instrumental to the project. The city received a plaque from the administrator recognizing the awarding of funding from Rural Development. Bayard school children participated in the event with a coloring contest and Earth Day readings.
The background on Bayard’s water issue involves two of their three wells containing water with nitrates levels which exceed the regulatory requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act. An Administrative Order was issued by the Nebraska Health and Human Services Department of Regulation and Licensure. The two wells are the only source of water for the City. The third well is not usable. The water project consists of the construction of a treatment plant, rehabilitation of the existing wells, and development of one new well, and the replacement of distribution lines and existing water meters.
USDA Rural Development funding for the project was made available through the Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant program. The USDA loan and grant funds were leveraged with funds provided by the Nebraska State Revolving Fund.
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