Where:
Wellton, Yuma County, Arizona
Problem:
The Town of Wellton needs a sewer collection system; the water utility company also needs to fulfill its existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan requirements.
Solution:
RCAC developed a required plan and conducted a Median Household Income Survey at the USDA’s request.
The Town of Wellton, a colonia located in the lower southwest region of Arizona, is interested in developing a wastewater collection and treatment system for existing residential and perhaps commercial customers, and to serve future customers. The town wishes to install a collection system and treat flows from the majority of their citizens which do not have centralized wastewater collection and are currently on septic systems. RCAC conducted a Median Household Income Survey in order to help determine the town’s actual income so that it can access U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant funds for the project.
To fulfill existing loan requirements, USDA asked RCAP to help the water utility develop a Vulnerability Assessment and an Emergency Response Plan (VA/ERP). RCAC assisted the utility manager to complete the VA/ERP, and then worked with the police chief to incorporate it into the town’s overall emergency response plan. RCAC presented a signed certificate of completion to the USDA, for the Vulnerability Assessment and Emergency Response Plan, which allowed the water utility to meet loan terms and conditions.
RCAC will continue to work with Wellton to complete a rate study for the water system, which has not had a rate change in many years, and will help to develop USDA funding applications for the sewer collection system.
