YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced great news for Yuma County on Friday.
USDA Deputy Secretary Tory Small visited Somerton and presented a $21.6 million grant.
USDA says these funds will help rural communities get the support they need to develop, maintain, and improve their drinking water and waste treatment systems.
The county announced it can now provide sewer service to more than 300 homes in Somerton that currently use septic tanks, which are costly and can contaminate groundwater.
Yuma County Board of Supervisors Chairman Martin Porchas says this is a big win for local residents.
“Once the sewer system is in place, we could use that money for other needs… It’s impossible for the county to come up with that money, so any assistance we can get from the Department of Agriculture is on us. “I’ll take it any time,” Porthas says.
Yuma County and the City of Somerton would like to extend a huge thank you to Charlene Fernandez, representative of the Department of Agriculture, for helping make this grant a reality.
