Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated the town of Quartzsite on its new $1,507,000 water and waste development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The loan comes through USDA’s Rural Development program and will, in conjunction with funding from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority and a Rural Development Colonia Grant, finance the town’s $6.1 million water treatment project.

The funds will allow the town to expand its wastewater treatment plant, increase its capacity and retire older septic systems. The project also aims to build new sludge drying beds and improve yard piping. The improvements will help the plant and the town as they work to meet specific water quality standards and reduce nitrate levels.

“These kinds of capital improvement projects are exactly what we need to upgrade America’s infrastructure and get Arizona back to work,” Grijalva said. “Towns, cities and states around the country can get much more done with federal assistance than by going it alone. Quartzsite is just one of many Southern Arizona community that’s benefiting this year from smartly targeted federal investments and loans.”

For more information, contact Quartzsite Assistant Town Manager Al Johnson at (928) 927-4333 or ajohnson@ci.quartzsite.az.us.