CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Illinois State Director Jesus Ortega announced EJ Water Cooperative, Inc. got $5,537,000 for construction of a reservoir west of Holland, Illinois.
The reservoir is one of the water upgrades the cooperative is making to provide access to reliable water for more than 16,000 rural residents across seven counties in rural Illinois.
Ortega said, "Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rollins, USDA is committed to ensuring people in rural Illinois have access to safe, reliable water. This project champions the priority to meet the need for safe, clean water in the American heartland that is essential to rural prosperity."
The 48-acre, above ground side channel reservoir can supply water for six months, replacing the old one that only supplied water for three days.
The USDA Rural Development investment in the reservoir includes two loans totaling $4,577,000 and a $960,000 grant. Funding was provided through Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.
Currently, EJ Water Cooperative, Inc. provides access to reliable water for more than 70,000 rural Americans across 19 counties in Central and Southern Illinois.
The new reservoir was built as part of plans to continue to meet the growing needs for people in Effingham, Shelby, Cumberland, Fayette, Clay, Christian, and Montgomery counties.
Applications for the water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program are accepted year-round.
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