Money from the State Revolving Loan Fund program comes from EPA grants with 20 percent state matching; communities are eligible for below market interest rate loans for water projects.
Water quality at the community has been a common problem, with excessive levels of arsenic, sulfate and iron concentrations for the 90 homes with 250 residents, as MHProNews has learned.
The community was built in 1962 for Boeing employees installing Minutemen missile systems for the U. S. Air Force, and was purchased last year for $1.4 million with assistance from ROC-USA by the residents who make an average of under $20,000 annually.
The first phase of the construction, which is scheduled to begin in one week, will center on improving the water quality itself by constructing a new well, new distribution lines and storage tanks. The second phase will focus on replacing the sewer system.
South Winds Sewer and Water District will have to repay one $500,000 loan, but the other one will be forgiven. ##
(Photo credit: Montana Neighbor Works/Nion Sanders–Neighbor Works manufactured home)
