NADB provides US$500,000 grant to improve the drinking water system in Whetstone, Arizona
San Antonio, TX – The North American Development Bank (NADB) and the Whetstone Water Improvement District (WWID) have signed a $500,000 Community Assistance Program (CAP) grant to support the construction of a new well and installation of a water main to connect the well to the distribution system. The grant will also facilitate electrical upgrades to two existing wells, which will serve as a backup water supply. The estimated cost of the project is US$706,000, with WWID providing US$206,000.
The project will improve the water supply and distribution system for 459 households by reducing incidents of low pressure and service interruption, which will help reduce health risks associated with waterborne diseases.
“This NADB grant will allow the water district to make urgent upgrades to its aging water system and thus provide better quality water services to all its customers,” stated NADB Managing Director Alex Hinojosa. “NADB is proud to provide funding to assist small communities such as Whetstone, which do not have the resources to address their most pressing infrastructure needs.”
The utility currently uses two groundwater wells located at different sites within the service area on the east side of Arizona State Route (SR) 90, where approximately 80% of the connections are located. A 4-inch waterline connects the water system to the west side of SR 90, where customers experience low water pressure problems on a daily basis, creating a risk for backflow and cross-contamination problems in the distribution system. The new well and 6-inch transmission line will assure sufficient water supply, service reliability and system redundancy for the entire WWID service area.
The CAP offers grant financing to support the implementation of critical environmental projects sponsored by public entities in low-income communities in the border region. Grants are available for projects in all environmental sectors eligible for NADB financing, with priority given to drinking water, wastewater, water conservation and solid waste projects.