Funding Formally Announced For East Locust Creek Project By USDA

Missouri State Rural Development Director Kyle Wilkens announced that the USDA will award $45 million dollars in loan and grant funds through the Water & Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission.

The financing will include $22.3 million dollars in loans and $23.4 million dollars in grant funding. The investment is intended to improve the water system by creating a water reservoir, constructing an intake tower and transmission line, and modernizing the commission’s water treatment plant.

The commission will use this funding to dam East Locust Creek in Sullivan County and create a water supply reservoir at least 2,300 acres in size. The reservoir will be the Commission’s primary raw water source to wholesale customers. The funding will be used to refinance debt associated with this project and construct an intake tower in the reservoir which will funnel water into a newly constructed transmission line so it can be treated in the modernized treatment plant. The intent of the regional water system is to provide a consistent, stable water source supplying potable water to local, rural residents during both normal and drought conditions and provide flood control for the area. Previously, the area’s water sources had become dangerously low during times of drought that.

This Water & Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.