Paul StinsonThe Sharyland Water Corp will receive a $17.9 million loan from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for infrastructure upgrades that will minimize water loss and deliver safe drinking water for 87,000 residents of Hidalgo County in southeast Texas.
The funding comes from the Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA), a long-term, low-cost federal program that has allocated $20 billion in financing to support water and wastewater infrastructure projects since it was enacted in 2014.
The loan will go toward $37 million in planned infrastructure updates that include enhancements to pump stations, chemical feed facilities, storage infrastructure and electrical systems at two water treatment plants. The upgrades will bolster the existing system’s reliability, help minimize water loss and keep water rates affordable for the corporation’s customers, which include the communities of Mission, McAllen and Edinburg. In addition, the WIFIA loan will go toward replacing several miles of water mains.
“This funding will not only strengthen our infrastructure but also allows us to minimize the financial impact on our valued members,” Sharyland Water Supply Corporation General Manager Carlos R. Lima said in an EPA release announcing the loan. Federal officials estimate the corporation will save $5.2 million by tapping the WIFIA program.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact research@spartnerships.com.
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