Houston Receives Over $3 Million For New Water Plant

Houston received big support from the Public Facilities Authority after being approved for $3.10 million for the construction of a new drinking water plant.

“Communities across Minnesota face serious water-quality challenges,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “This funding supports improvements that will give residents of Houston, Lucan, and Sacred Heart access to the clean drinking water they deserve.”

The new drinking water plant in Houston will be used to treat for radium, iron and manganese as well as the modification of two wells and the demolition of the existing well houses.

Funding for the project comes from a 1 percent 30-year loan of $500,200 from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, and =it will save an estimated $158,975 when compared to a traditional loan. The rest of the money is from a grant from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, another grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development from the Small Cities Development Program.

“These projects are a good investment for Minnesota cities,” said Shawntera Hardy, PFA board chair and commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “By utilizing PFA programs to address their water and sewage infrastructure needs, Minnesotans are helping residents and local businesses now and in the future.”

Houston was apart of the PFA's approval of $6.1 million used to in water projects in Sacred Heart and Lucan.