Marathon, Texas. – U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX 23) and North American Development Bank (NADB) Managing Director Alex Hinojosa joined Marathon Water Supply and Sewer Service Corporation staff and community members to kick off a US$1.55 million project that will replace aging infrastructure and extend the wastewater system to two unserved areas in Marathon, Texas, a small community approximately 230 miles east of El Paso.
Funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), a grant program administered by NADB, the project will replace approximately 8,800 linear feet of the collector main that conveys the wastewater to the Marathon wastewater treatment plant, decommission a lift station and also extend wastewater collection infrastructure to Fussy Flats and Loma del Chivo, the only areas within town that currently do not have access to the wastewater system.
“For far too long folks in Marathon have had to rely on an old, unreliable wastewater collection system that causes serious public health risks across the community,” said U.S. Representative Will Hurd. “I am proud to support this funding from the Border Water Infrastructure Program, and I thank the North American Development Bank for providing this opportunity for Marathon’s wastewater collection infrastructure. These much-needed repairs will eliminate uncontrolled spills and collect an additional 2,000 gallons a day of wastewater from new connections. I remain committed to protecting the health and safety of South and West Texans.”
“Small communities like Marathon face challenges in replacing failing infrastructure, which in this case was made possible through the support of grant funding,” stated Mr. Hinojosa, who added “We are happy to collaborate with federal, state and local utilities to bring the needed assistance to construct this project.”
Currently, wastewater collection infrastructure is available to 85% of residents, with service provided through 241 residential connections. Only a few areas within the community and some outlying areas use on-site wastewater disposal systems. Portions of the existing wastewater collection system were constructed nearly 50 years ago using clay pipes that no longer have sufficient cover to protect the integrity of the pipes. The utility has experienced chronic issues with line breaks and spills dues to the age and deterioration of the pipes.
This project, certified by the NADB Board of Directors in November 2017, will prevent wastewater spills and sewage backups due to line breaks, contributing to the reduction of water pollution and the risks of waterborne diseases for the more than 500 residents in this community. It will also collect an additional 2,000 gallons per day of wastewater by providing first-time access to unserved areas.