Wyden, Merkley: La Pine Receiving Federal Help for City Wastewater System
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed more than $8 million in new federal rural development funding for La Pine to upgrade its wastewater system.
The Oregon senators said the $5 million loan and $3.7 million grant from the Agriculture Department will help La Pine to reduce construction costs as part of a project responding to public health concerns about residential wells in the town’s Cagle and Glenwood Acres subdivisions.
“These resources are a must for residents and businesses in La Pine to keep user rates affordable and address crucial drinking water issues,” Wyden said. “I am gratified that these needs of rural Oregonians will be addressed.”
“Investments like this in water infrastructure create economic opportunity while also providing clean water and healthy systems for rural Oregon,” Merkley said. “I will continue using my position as ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee to fight for the USDA funding that serves our rural communities.”
The expansion of La Pine’s municipal wastewater into the Cagle and Glenwood Acres subdivisions come in response to residential wells in those neighborhoods showing elevated nitrate levels from residential septic systems seeping into the groundwater.
The entire USDA announcement is here.
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