Buchanan County, VA, To Gain E.P.A. Planning Assistance For Water Infrastructure

PHILADELPHIA (January 26, 2016) - The E.P.A. today announced that Buchanan County, Virginia, and 9 other local governments around the nation will gain a total of $500,000 in financial and technical guidance to invest in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

EPA's new Water Community Assistance for Resiliency and Excellence (WaterCARE) plan will assist the communities in developing strategies for water infrastructure that meet long-term needs. The communities selected are dedicated to increasing community sustainability by financing water infrastructure improvements.

Buchanan County, located in rural southwestern Virginia, will use its funds to project for long-term operation, maintenance and updates to a system which serves all communities within its boundaries. The Co. has relied on state and federal financing and coal severance funds to build out its system to bring safe drinking water to isolated areas in the county.

"Buchanan Co. deserves credit for expanding its system to bring safe drinking water to residents in hard-to-reach areas," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. "These funds will help the Co. move forward to ensure the sustainable protection of public health into the future."

WaterCARE communities have a population less than 100,000, a need to address public health challenges, median household income considerations, and readiness to proceed with a capital improvement project. Plan successes will be shared with other communities that have similar water infrastructure financing needs.

Along with Buchanan County, other WaterCARE local governments receiving a $50,000 share of the $500,000 include:

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