Udall, Heinrich, Torres Small Applaud Over $5 Million in Grants to Upgrade Water Infrastructure and Waste Systems in Anthony, Chamberino

Las Cruces, NM – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Henrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development investment has awarded over $5 million in grants for critical water infrastructure and waste system projects in Anthony and Chamberino.

In Anthony, the $2,636,000 and $1,968,500 grants will be used to complete a wastewater treatment system project, expanding infrastructure that serve colonias and surrounding communities. The $467,000 grant will be used to upgrade the Chamberino Mutual Domestic Water Consumer & Sewer Association’s water system, including a new 200,000-gallon storage tank and an additional 4,000 linear feet of water line from the existing tank.

“Access to safe drinking water is fundamental to healthy families and economies, yet communities in rural New Mexico often face challenges accessing this precious resource. We owe it to our communities, and to our children, to responsibly manage our water resources and infrastructure so that we can thrive in the American West for generations to come,” said Udall, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This grant is an important step forward to ensuring that Anthony, Chamberino and surrounding communities have sound infrastructure to maintain clean water for their residents. I will continue to fight for critical funding that helps to repair and improve essential infrastructure projects in rural communities so that no New Mexico community is left behind.”

“Residents of colonias and border communities in New Mexico deserve clean water supplies,” said Heinrich.“ Modernizing sewers and wastewater treatment infrastructure is critical to keeping our drinking water safe and healthy. That is why I am proud to welcome this major federal investment that will upgrade critical water infrastructure and waste system projects in Anthony and Chamberino.”

“Too many of our communities in southern New Mexico lack the necessary infrastructure to provide clean water and safe wastewater disposal. Water is foundational, from our health to opportunities for economic development, and too often rural residents struggle to access and manage this precious resource. This funding will help bring critical projects to completion, serving Anthony, colonias, and communities in Chamberino. I will continue to fight for smart investments like this that serve all corners of the district,” said Torres Small. 

The full breakdown of over $5 million in new USDA grants is below:

• Anthony Water and Sanitation District will receive $2,636,000 through the 306C Water and Waste Grants - Colonias program.
• Anthony Water and Sanitation will receive $1,968,500 through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program.
• Chamberino Mutual Domestic Water Consumer & Sewer Association will receive $467,000 through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program.

This builds on previous funding from USDA and will be conjunction with the following grants and loans: Anthony Water and Sanitation District previously received a $5,547,000 Persistent Poverty Loan and $10,967,500 Persistent Poverty Grant, and Chamberino Mutual Domestic Water Consumer & Sewer Association received a $141,000 loan and $2,594,200 grant from Rural Development.