Where: Malheur County, Oregon

Issue: River Village Mobile Home Park was in violation of state water regulations

Outcome: RCAC worked with the mobile home park owner to develop a budget and update the water system

River Village Mobile Home Park is a very small community water system serving 26 residents in Malheur County in Eastern Oregon. In 2014, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) informed the mobile home park owner that the drinking water system exceeded federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic and later referred Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) to River Village for technical assistance.

RCAC worked with the mobile home park owner to develop a budget and plan for necessary requirements to apply for public funding. RCAC staff also assisted River Village with a funding application under the Oregon Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Sustainable Infrastructure Project Planning (SIPP) program. This $20,000 loan with principal forgiveness funded an engineering feasibility study to determine options to achieve compliance with state drinking water regulations.

RCAC staff also brought together River Village Mobile Home Park owner, OHA, and the Business Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority (IFA) to develop a compliance schedule. RCAC staff also guided the procurement process to hire an engineer, developed a scope of work to meet funding requirements, and drafted a contract for services for River Village to hire an engineer. An engineer was hired and the engineering feasibility study is complete which identifies drilling a new well as the preferred alternative, with an estimated cost of $60,000.

In December, 2016, RCAC assisted River Village with a Letter of Interest for funding under the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund program for $65,000 to cover costs and contingency for the next phase of the project based on the engineering feasibility study.