Udall, Heinrich, Luján Announce $33,000 to Help Taos County Increase Clean Water Production
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) , and Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded a grant of $7,000 and approved a loan of $26,000, totaling $33,000, to help the Llano Quemado Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association in Ranchos de Taos complete a water infrastructure project. The rural development funds will be used to install a new fluoride-free water well and complete a treatment plant to reduce the fluoridation level of existing wells. When complete, the water system will be able to increase production of clean water and encourage economic growth in the area.
"This much-needed funding will help deliver clean drinking water to the residents of Taos County," Udall said. “Having an efficient and sustainable clean water source is vital to helping our rural communities grow and prosper. USDA Rural Development water infrastructure program has been a critical funding source in New Mexico, and as a member of the subcommittee that oversees its funding, I will keep fighting to see that investments in New Mexico's rural communities remain a priority.”
“In New Mexico, we know that water is life. I am proud to support this funding to ensure residents of Taos County have access clean drinking water,” said Heinrich. “I will continue fighting for infrastructure investments that are so essential to economic development and the vitality of New Mexico’s rural communities.”
“In New Mexico’s rural communities, we understand the value of access to a reliable source of clean, sustainable water,” Luján said. “Through this funding, improvements can be made to the water system that will help Taos County continue to grow and flourish. Fighting for infrastructure improvements like this remains one of my priorities in Congress to ensure that all of New Mexico’s communities prosper.”
The Llano Quemado Domestic Water Consumers Association will receive the funding through the USDA’s Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program. According to USDA, the funds will be used to offset a cost overrun in a water project, allowing for the installation of a new water well and a treatment plant.
Additional information is available here.
Related Issues
