Blog/News

Recently, SERCAP’s Facilities Development Program awarded a substantial grant to the Nelson County Service Authority, to support a current wastewater treatment plant project in the community of Schuyler in Nelson County, Virginia. The Nelson County Service Authority delivers water and sewer (wastewater) service to several communities in Nelson County, including the low-income community of Schuyler, VA. Schuyler’s community sewer system is very small, serving only 44 connections, and consisting of 10,000 linear feet of gravity collection lines, an influent wastewater pump station, and a 25,000 gallons-per-day (gpd) treatment facility...

Recently, SERCAP’s Certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) Loan Fund assisted a low-income single man living in Pittsylvania County, VA, to have a new individual household well installed at his home. He has lived in his home for 23 years, but as of eight (8) months ago, began experiencing difficulties with his well. Initially, the well flowed freely for about a two-week period, but then the flow of water would slow to a trickle while the well re-filled itself over a two-day period. This cycle left the client in desperate need of potable water during the two-day refilling period, however, due to his low-income status he was unable to afford the cost of having a new well drilled on his own, without causing serious financial hardship...

Currently, SERCAP’s Regional Department is partnering with the Virginia Chapter of the American Waterworks Association’s (AWWA) Water Reach Committee to work with communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia to identify short-term projects which will support long-term community planning and yield a high-level impact on community infrastructure and sustainability. Throughout the course of the COVID-19 Pandemic, rural communities, like their urban and suburban counterparts, have experienced challenges such as staffing issues, making long-term planning and capital investment difficult. Due to their geography, topography, and limited resources, these small, rural communities often struggle to connect households to local water utility systems, leaving residents without access to potable water in their homes. Additionally, maintaining compliance with the new EPA lead and copper regulations has also proved to be a challenge for these rural communities...

Recently, SERCAP’s Housing Department assisted a low-income, elderly woman living in Buckingham County, VA, through the agency’s Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation-Flex (IPR-Flex) Program. The client has been living in her home for seven (7) years, but recently reported a failed septic system. A home inspection revealed that her home was also in need of several other significant repairs, however, due to her low-income status she was unable to afford the cost of a new septic system and the needed home repairs on her own without causing significant financial hardship...

Last week, SERCAP celebrated its 53rd year of serving rural communities and low-to-moderate income (LMI) individuals by hosting its Annual Water Is Life! Celebratory Reception & Banquet in beautiful Roanoke, VA! On Thursday, May 5, 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SERCAP staff and Board Members once again gathered together with Friends, Supporters, and the General Public at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center to celebrate the year’s accomplishments in the water/wastewater, housing, and community development fields...

Recently, SERCAP's Housing Department assisted a low-income household of two (2) (an elderly man and his adult daughter) living in Buckingham County, VA, to rebuild their home through the agency’s Indoor Plumbing & Rehabilitation Flex (IPR-Flex) program.  The clients had been living in the home for 26 years, and after that length of time, the structure had fallen into significant disrepair, and hosted a failed septic system. However, due to the clients’ low-income status, they were unable to afford the cost of the project on their own. Fortunately, one of SERCAP’s previous IPR-Flex program recipients referred them to the agency for assistance, and due to their low-income status they qualified for the program...

Recently, SERCAP's Regional Technical Assistance Program assisted a low-income individual to increase their well’s water production.    The client’s well was routinely running dry, and was not yielding a sufficient amount of water to meet the client’s needs. In order to address this need, SERCAP delivered water straight to the client’s well on two occasions. However, that would not be a long-term viable solution for low-yield well use, and SERCAP needed to discover a permanent fix for the well’s low water production. SERCAP recommended Well Hydraulic Fracturing or Well Hydro-fracking as a long-term solution...

During the month of March 2022, SERCAP’s Housing Counseling Department closed-out its FY2021 Credit Improvement Program, in partnership with Virginia Housing. SERCAP is an approved HUD Local Housing Counseling Agency (LHCA), and regular sub-grantee of Virginia Housing’s grant programs for housing counseling. In 2021, SERCAP was awarded the FY2021 Housing Counseling & Education (HCE) Credit Improvement Focus Area Grant from Virginia Housing...

Currently, SERCAP’s Facilities Development Program is providing financial assistance to support the Lula G. Williams Education and Wellness Center, an assisted living facility located in Dinwiddie County, VA. In 2004, the Virginia Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church opened the 60-bed facility, housing upwards of 20 residents on average. The center offered both private and semi-private rooms, and services included: customized care plans, recreation, exercise and fitness activities, 24-hour staffing, emergency call systems, three (3) nutritional meals daily, and housekeeping and laundry services. Additional health services included: respite care, medication management, and rehabilitation services. Despite the benefits to the community, the facility was shut-down in 2007 due to the discovery of considerable radiological contamination in the existing well water supply, and a lack of sufficient funds to correct the problem...

Recently, SERCAP’s Certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) Loan Fund assisted a low-income single man living in Henry County, VA, to replace his septic system. Shortly after purchasing his home, he began experiencing difficulties with his septic system. Due to an addition to the basement, the system was not installed deep enough into the ground, and tree roots were growing through it. Wastewater began overflowing from his septic system into the bathroom in the basement, creating a nuisance and a health hazard. However, due to his low-income status he was unable to afford the cost of replacing his septic system on his own...