Crapo, USDA-RD Announce Water Funding For New Plymouth

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and USDA Rural Development (USDA-RD) announce the city of New Plymouth will receive $3.7 million in a combination of loans and grants to upgrade its water and wastewater systems. New Plymouth has planned the improvements to upgrade both facilities and to address arsenic issues in its water.

"Key to rural economic development is the maintenance of the infrastructure involved-roads, bridges and water systems," said Crapo, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit. "Many of Idaho's water systems are aging, and Rural Development funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been a major help in upgrading many of these water systems."

"We're glad to provide water and sewer funding to the city of New Plymouth," said Mike Field, USDA-RD State Director. "It is through partnerships, like this one with the Department of Commerce, that cities are able to secure enough dollars to make these improvements possible. Partnering is one of the most effective ways we have to assist Idaho communities with quality-of-life projects."
The funding for New Plymouth is a $3.2 million low-interest loan and a $500,000 grant. The money will help pay for water improvements that include a new well outside of town to capture water with minimum arsenic levels, and new transmission and distribution lines and a new storage tank. The new water source will bring the city into compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for water quality. Crapo and Field credited city leaders for their aggressive preparation work leading to today's announcement on the water improvements.