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Recovery Act Funds Help a South Dakota Region Improve Water Service

Posted by Tammi Schone, USDA South Dakota Public Information Officer in Initiatives Rural
Feb 03, 2011

Kingbrook Rural Water System, Inc. in Arlington, South Dakota, (KBRW) is spread over a service area of nearly 3,000 square miles, larger than some states.  The distances involved create opportunity for failures of equipment or facilities due to natural or man-made causes. Any calamity can cause ripple effects on the Kingbrook system that would adversely affect water service for hours, days, or weeks.

KBRW operates an eleven-county water system which includes three water treatment plants, distribution pipeline, and pumping stations to distribute water to over 4,000 customers.  The operation requires significant capital investment as individual system components require replacement.

Thanks in part to American Recovery Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding through a USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Direct Loan in the amount of $4,991,000 and a Grant funded through the agency’s regular allocation of $2,899,000, Kingbrook Rural Water System, Inc, is improving its system and service to its customers.

South Dakota Rural Development State Director Elsie M. Meeks was in Arlington on January 25th to view the progress of the project.  “The federal funding will assist Kingbrook Rural Water System, Inc. with constructing a one million gallon elevated storage water tank, installation of new filter media at the De Smet Water Treatment Plant, and 150 miles of new water pipeline,” said Meeks.  “These upgrades will assist Kingbrook with providing improved service to their existing customers and adding 175 new water users.”

The federal funds will be leveraged with $100,000 of state funds and local contributions of $309,700.  This project is needed to provide adequate water throughout Kingbrook’s multi-county service area.

“Rural Development is our primary lender and without their continued support we wouldn’t be where we are today.  This latest loan and grand funding package will help us to provide water to new customers and improve service to existing customers,” said Randy Jencks, General Manager of Kingbrook Rural Water Systems, Inc.

More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

USDA State Director Presents a Certificate of Achievement to the Water Association: left to right front row seated Matt Astleford – Senator Tim Johnson’s staff; Rural Development State Director Elsie M. Meeks; Larry Sterling – Chairman; Rural Development Area Director Darlene Bresson; left to right standing back row Dale Thompson – Director/Board Member; John Weidler – Director/Board Member; Rural Development Manager Jeane Simley; Brian Christensen – Director/Board Member; and Randy Jencks – General Manager of Kingbrook Rural Water Association.USDA State Director Presents a Certificate of Achievement to the Water Association: left to right front row seated Matt Astleford – Senator Tim Johnson’s staff; Rural Development State Director Elsie M. Meeks; Larry Sterling – Chairman; Rural Development Area Director Darlene Bresson; left to right standing back row Dale Thompson – Director/Board Member; John Weidler – Director/Board Member; Rural Development Manager Jeane Simley; Brian Christensen – Director/Board Member; and Randy Jencks – General Manager of Kingbrook Rural Water Association.
USDA State Director Presents a Certificate of Achievement to the Water Association: left to right front row seated Matt Astleford – Senator Tim Johnson’s staff; Rural Development State Director Elsie M. Meeks; Larry Sterling – Chairman; Rural Development Area Director Darlene Bresson; left to right standing back row Dale Thompson – Director/Board Member; John Weidler – Director/Board Member; Rural Development Manager Jeane Simley; Brian Christensen – Director/Board Member; and Randy Jencks – General Manager of Kingbrook Rural Water Association.

Category/Topic: Initiatives Rural
Tags: Arlington ARRA Elsie M. Meeks Kingbrook Rural Water Association Rural Development South Dakota Water and Waste Direct Loan