Yucca Valley, CA  -  The United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation announced that Hi-Desert Water District (HDWD) will receive $4 million to go towards the Wastewater Reclamation Project ("the Sewer Project"). This funding from the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program will be used to help lower the total estimated cost to construct Phase 1 of the Sewer Project.

The announcement comes a week after property owners approved Assessment District 2014-1 to secure a low-interest loan to build Phase 1 of the Sewer Project. Property owners locked in a 1% interest loan for 30 years to finance their portion of the estimated $145 million project. The 'not to exceed' assessment amounts that were approved last week, are expected to decrease as a result of receiving this grant.

"This is a step in the right direction to help lower individual assessments for property owners," said Ed Muzik, HDWD General Manager.  "This is the path we want to continue on as construction moves forward on the Sewer Project so that the system is delivered at the lowest possible cost."

This is the third award that the Sewer Project has received as part of a $20 million grant promised by the Bureau of Reclamation. This recent amount was awarded to the Sewer Project because it was identified as part of the Federal Government's plan to improve water efficiency and conservation for drought-stricken California. The Sewer Project, once completed, will help Yucca Valley become more water efficient by collecting and treating wastewater so that it can be put back into the ground to replenish local water supplies.

For more information about the Sewer Project, visit protectgroundwater.org or call 760-365-8333 Extension 3. For more information about the Bureau of Reclamation grant click here.