Governor Kaine Announces $8.9 Million in Grants, Loans to Improve Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced $8,932,000 in grants and loans from the federal Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program have been awarded for 11 projects to improve accessibility to reliable and safe drinking water for more than 9,100 households, many of them in Southwest Virginia.

“A great deal of progress has been achieved in recent years to bring safe, reliable, and accessible drinking water to thousands of Virginians,” Governor Kaine said. “Our administration will continue to prioritize grants and focus our available resources on water projects that help households connected to inadequate public systems, as well as those homes with no access to public water at all.”

State and federal funds are awarded through a combination of loans and grants provided by the DWSRF program, and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is designated by the federal government to administer and distribute the funds. The VDH Office of Drinking Water (ODW) manages the funding for these projects, and coordinates with other organizations to help communities expand and upgrade their water systems. 

Since the program's first award in 1998, the Virginia Department of Health has awarded nearly $130 million for 121 drinking water improvement projects through the end of fiscal year 2005. And since 2002, the fund has been used to connect nearly 70,000 Virginians to sanitary, reliable water supplies.

“Access to clean, reliable drinking water is vital to public health,” said Dr. Robert B. Stroube, State Health Commissioner.  “These projects lead to the improvement of the health and quality of life of those who live in these communities.”

“Building and maintaining a reliable water infrastructure is key to making safe drinking water accessible to all Virginians,” said Dr. Wes Kleene, Director of the Office of Drinking Water.   “The DWSRF plays a critical role in providing assistance to areas with the most need.”

The DWSRF program was created by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The following projects were announced today:

• The Greater Tazewell area will receive a loan of nearly $600,000 to fund the expansion of its water treatment plant.   This WTP serves about 2,400 existing households and 6,400 residents.
• A loan and grant totaling about $2.3 million will be used to extend the water line for Big A Mountain Water 47,800 feet to serve nearly 300 additional households in Russell County. 
• Financial assistance of a $1.54 million loan from the DWSRF will allow the Scott County Public Service Authority to expand its service to residents in Natural Tunnel, Possum Creek, and Wadlow Gap, a total of 189 new households, serving approximately 440 residents.  
• A $429,645 loan will allow the New River Water Company, Inc. in Montgomery County to connect the existing Viewland subdivision comprised of 73 households to the Montgomery County Public Service Authority’s water line.
• A $299,409 loan to allow the Russell County Water and Sewage Authority to fund the replacement and upgrade of the Seven Springs main water line, which benefits approximately 2,000 existing households.
• A $1.68 million loan to upgrade existing water treatment facilities at the Town of Marion Water Treatment System, and a $49,500 grant to fund the replacement of the Lee Street Water Line in the Town of Marion. These projects will benefit about 3,500 existing households.
• A $1.7 million loan to fund improvements to the Town of Chilhowie Water System, which will benefit 580 existing households.
• A $68,877 loan to the Washington County Service Authority to fund the installation of approximately 4,100 feet of water line along Alex Road to eight new households currently with 19 residents.
• A $169,360 loan to the Washington County Service Authority to fund the installation of approximately 6,520 feet of water line and two pressure reducing valves at Twin Oaks Road to 21 new households with 50 residents.
• A $144,015 loan to the Wise County Public Service Authority to fund improvements to the Dunbar Water System, which serves 40 existing households.

To learn more about drinking water improvement projects in Virginia, visit the VDH Web site.

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