Where: Letha, Gem County, Idaho
Problem: Small water systems lack the technical, financial and managerial capacity to manage their systems and the revenue base required to finance large capital projects.
Solution: RCAC provides technical assistance to ensure compliance with regulations and acquire federal funds.
Letha is an unincorporated town of 200 people in Gem County, Idaho. Households predominately have low median incomes. The Letha Sewer District’s all-volunteer board oversees the town’s sewer system, which was built in the mid-1970s and provides service to 56 households.
A wastewater lagoon seepage test yielded inconclusive results in 2021, raising concerns that a leak could potentially contaminate the adjacent slough and nearby surface waters. A compliance agreement schedule is now in place with the Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to resolve the issue. Letha also needs a multi-million-dollar capital project to upgrade the district’s sewage lagoons. Board members, themselves ratepayers, are concerned about increased oversight and rising sewer bills.
In spring 2022, RCAC began working with Letha at U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s (USDA RD) request to assist Letha through the funding process with all relevant funders. RCAC attended board meetings; helped draft letters of interest, registration and application submission; and worked to ensure that the district board appropriately delegated responsibilities.
In 2022, Idaho awarded Letha with a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) planning grant and Gem County provided American Recue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In January 2023, Letha submitted a letter of interest to the State Revolving Fund requesting over $7 million to help finance the construction phase and is awaiting confirmation. The community remains deeply concerned about affordability, even if a substantial amount of the loan principal is ultimately forgiven.
RCAC maintains regular communication with community members and is working to ensure that the system is ready to manage a loan.
For more information, contact:
Ari Neumann, Director, Community & Environmental Services
(916) 447-9832; 1032
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