Currently, SERCAP’s Regional Department is providing Technical Assistance services to the Newton Mobile Home Park in Mecklenburg County, VA. The 98 lot mobile home park is home to approximately 92 minority households, all of whom are low-income. The water for the Park is currently supplied by three (3) community wells, the combined output of which is between 20 and 25 gallons-per-minute (gpm). During peak water usage times, such as mornings when residents are getting ready for work and school, the wells cannot keep up with the demand, and the system’s water pressure drops to as-low-as 5 psi, well under the 20 psi minimum requirement.
The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water (VDH-ODW) has been working with the Park to address compliance and capacity issues, including Park management. SERCAP’s Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) are working in cooperation with both VDH-ODW staff and the Newton Mobile Home Park ownership and staff to provide needed Technical Assistance. SERCAP’s TAPs have: 1) reviewed engineering plans to address water supply and well control issues, 2) inspected the facilities, 3) reviewed project plans, and 4) discussed SERCAP funding for the project. In addition to providing Technical Assistance, SERCAP is working to secure $40,000.00 through the Facilities Development Grant program, in order to make necessary improvements to the water system.
*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.