Last week, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $79,081,776 in grants and loans for drinking water and wastewater projects in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties in South Dakota. These awards are part of more than $1.1 billion in statewide awards approved by the board today.
The $79,081,776 total includes $41,791,306 in grants and $37,290,470 in low-interest loans to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“I am pleased to announce this financial assistance is available,” said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “These grants and loans will result in upgraded wastewater and drinking water systems which is good for the users and the environment.”
The grants and loans were awarded from DANR’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the following:
Lennox received a $3,275,550 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan and a $4,003,450 ARPA grant to replace aged and deteriorating infrastructure. Improvements include replacing sanitary sewer mains and storm water mains. The abandoned infiltration basins will be converted into additional equalization storage, and basin covers for additional thermal protection will be installed. A mechanical bio-solids dewatering press will also be installed. The loan terms are 2.125 percent for 30 years.
Lennox also received a $1,339,200 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan and a $1,636,800 ARPA grant to replace approximately 6,700 feet of aged and deteriorating water mains. The loan terms are 1.875 percent for 30 years.
Lennox City Administrator Nathan Vander Plaats, said, “We are thrilled to have over 50% of this project funded by grants instead of loans, and are grateful to Governor Noem and the legislature for their work to secure the state’s ARPA funds for local use. The City and Stockwell Engineers have been aggressively preparing projects for funding, and that strategy is paying off. This funding package from the State of South Dakota will allow the community to continue improving the oldest infrastructure in Lennox as we tackle an ambitious Capital Improvement Plan.”
Worthing received a $1,055,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan and a $1,699,961 ARPA grant to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility. To address organic overloading at the treatment facility, a lagoon cell that was abandoned in 1997 will be rehabilitated and brought into service. A submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR) will be installed to meet future treatment requirements, which will require the construction of a new lift station at the lagoon site. The loan terms are 2.125 percent for 30 years.
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