Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $185,000 grant and $915,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Waterloo in Seneca County. This federal funding will be used to create a water system that provides access to clean drinking water for residents who currently extract their water from wells with poor water quality.
“Access to clean drinking water is critical to public health and economic growth,” said Senator Schumer. “This federal investment will have a profound impact on the lives of many Waterloo residents and will help the entire town grow and prosper.”
“When we invest in key water infrastructure like this, we can deliver clean drinking water to more Waterloo families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Upgrading water infrastructure is an effective way to attract new businesses and support new local jobs. And by making these investments at the federal level, we can hold the line on property taxes to help Waterloo families keep more of what they earn.”
“We’re very happy about getting the grant. We were not sure we would get the funding,” said Gary Westfall, Town Supervisor Waterloo, NY. “The project has been going on six years now. I’m very appreciative for what Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have done for the town. The water project will service over 100 municipal homes traveling along 4 roadways. Currently these homes don’t have reliable water due to the difficulties associated with getting access to the houses. It makes it very expensive given their location.”
The current wells that many Waterloo residents use today have low-quantity, poor-quality water. This federal investment will be used to install water mains along portions of Reed Road and Hecker Road as well as portions of NYS Route 96 and Mills Road. This project will create a clean water system for residents that is compliant with regulations and compatible with area wide economic development initiatives.
USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas.