BURRILLVILLE – The Pascoag Utility District will be awarded more than $2 million in loans and grants from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development to continue the project to rehabilitate the district’s aging water system.
According to a release from the USDA, the funding will be used to mechanically clean the interior of the existing unlined cast iron water lines. The cleaning is expected give residents access to a higher quality water and address problems the system had with “red” water due to high concentration of iron in the drinking water.The project began in 2016, and in reaching its third and final phase.
The cleaning process will be followed by the application of a lining to protect the interior pipe surface and improve the quality of water residents receive.
In addition, the project is expected to improve overall system performance. The project involves replacing valves, hydrants, and distribution system to complete the rehabilitation.
PUD will receive a roughly $900,000 grant and a $1 million loan from the federal agency to complete the work.
The funding will officially be announced at an event at PUD headquarters on Monday, Jan. 6 with Sens. Jack Reed and Richard Whitehouse, and Congressman Jim Langevin in attendance.
