WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) announced two U.S. Department of Agriculture grants for the Yuma County Improvement District for water system infrastructure totaling $2,690,671.

“Access to clean drinking water is a right,” said Rep. Grijalva. “I’m proud to support these water infrastructure projects that will replace outdated pipes and deliver clean water to the people of Yuma County.”

The current systems are more than 40 years old and have been deemed unfeasible to rehabilitate. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality placed an Administrative Order on the water system deeming the water non-drinkable due to high Arsenic levels dating back to 2011.

$1,774,800 will be used to develop and construct a water treatment and distribution system, remove and replace more than 10,000 linear feet of aging or low-capacity pipe to include service connections, and ​to construct a new water storage tank and groundwater well at a new location. Additionally, $915,871 will be used for water system improvements in Tacna, Arizona.

More information on the grants can be found here and here.

In addition to the grants, Rep. Grijalva voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package which includes $619 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across Arizona to ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.