Courtesy of the Louisiana Department of Health
The Hilly-Greenwood Water System has been awarded a $310,800 loan from the state’s Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund program, allowing the rural water system to access another $801,000 through the state’s Water Sector Program (WSP) to construct a new water well that will replace an outdated unit.
The Hilly-Greenwood Water System provides water service hook-ups to nearly 450 customers, accounting for 1,400 residents in the central, northwest region of Lincoln Parish. The system services water customers north of Interstate 20 and west of La. Highway 167.
The DWRLF funding is serving as the system’s “local match” for the WSP grant and is increasing the total dollars available to spend on construction of a new well system to more than $1 million. The DWRLF portion of the monies will be paid back through a low-interest, 30-year agreement.
“The DWRLF funding allows our system to construct a new well for our customers for less than one-third of the total cost,” said Hilly-Greenwood Water System President Randal Hermes. “The newly constructed well will replace an outdated well, allowing us to secure quality drinking water for our customers for years to come.”
The new well will be constructed at the elevated tank site on Highway 146. The system includes a new chlorination station, electrical hook-ups and site piping that will be connected to the well.
The Hilly-Greenwood Water System currently operates three wells across the district. The new well will replace an outdated well located on the site of the new one.
Engineer Bob Myers of Riley Company of Louisiana is managing the project. He said drilling for the new well is expected to be completed by the end of the year, while the final stages of constructing the new well and closing the old one on site will be completed before next spring.
The state’s DWRLF program assists public water systems in financing needed drinking water infrastructure improvements. The DWRLF provides low-interest loans for construction of eligible water system projects, such as treatment plants, distribution main replacements, and storage facilities. The program is administered by the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health (LDH-OPH) and operates under state law.
The DWRLF program aims to improve drinking water quality by assisting systems in providing water that meets established standards and achieves the goals of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996. The program is funded through federal capitalization grants matched with state monies, ensuring that the funds are used to support public health and safe drinking water delivery in Louisiana.
“Safe drinking water is fundamental to community health,” LDH Deputy Engineer of Infrastructure and Finance Dan MacDonald said. “This program helps communities throughout Louisiana keep their water as safe as possible without placing an undue burden in the form of expensive financing.”
