The Texas Water Development Board approves $3,565,000 in financial assistance to Agua Special Utility District (Hidalgo County) to finance drought-related water system improvements

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AUSTIN – (February 20, 2014) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of a $3,565,000 loan to the Agua Special Utility District (Hidalgo County) from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The assistance will help address drought-related water shortages and will finance planning and construction of alternate conveyance facilities to divert water from the Rio Grande to the district's Havana water treatment plant.

Because of ongoing drought conditions, Agua Special Utility District needs to develop additional water supplies for their customers. The district intends to use the funds to finance planning, acquisition of land and easement, design, and construction of an intake structure at the Rio Grande, a raw water pump station, and 11,000 linear feet of water transmission lines. The project will help provide water for over 40,000 citizens.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state's water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.