Giles County, located in southwest Virginia, owns and operates nine (9) different small water systems serving nearly 2,500 people (1,400 connections) across 13 separate communities. The County, along with the five (5) municipalities located within the County, make up the Giles County Public Service Authority (PSA); a separate entity which produces and sells bulk drinking water to its six (6) members. Though the six (6) members of the PSA have managed to provide access to public water to the most populous, and even some of the more sparsely populated, areas, there remains approximately a one-mile developed stretch of US Route 460 (which transverses Giles County from east to west) which still lacks water infrastructure.
The area, home to several large businesses and the entrance to the Clendinin community, has traditionally experienced both water quality and water capacity issues. The County’s Master Water Plan includes a project to extend public water lines to this area. In order to begin the project, the County has requested SERCAP’s assistance in funding the necessary Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). SERCAP recently awarded the Giles County Board of Supervisors a Facilities Development Grant in the amount of $40,000.00 to develop said PER, which must be procured before construction can begin on the project.
Without SERCAP’s Facilities Development Grant Program, and other similar services, many low-income individuals and communities would be forced to go without such necessities as water/wastewater infrastructure solutions, reliable access to clean drinking water, safe and affordable housing, indoor plumbing, other community development and infrastructure needs, and more. It is important to remember that even in the US in the 21st Century; there are those who do not have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, environmentally sound septic facilities, and affordable housing. In order to help SERCAP continue to provide assistance to both the individuals and communities in need, please consider making a donation to SERCAP’s Water Life! Fund!
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*Funding for SERCAP’s Regional Department is made possible by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Community Services’ (OCS) Grant, USDA RD’s Technitrain Program, the Drinking Water Compliance Grant through the EPA, and the EPA Private Well Grant. SERCAP’s Facilities Development Grant Program is made possible by a Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD). Additionally, all of SERCAP’s programs in Virginia, are leveraged by the Budget Appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly, administered by DHCD.