Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the City of Tucumcari has been approved for $1.09 million in low-interest loans and a $1.03 million in grant funding for improvements to the city’s wastewater system. The funding will come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The city will use a $564,486 loan and a $553,417 grant to help rehabilitate the wastewater treatment facility and replace the existing equipment and biological treatment process. The new facility will be able to treat the existing industrial and residential flows and meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) limits. It will also have the ability to meet water reuse regulations.

Additionally, a $533,000 loan and $476,760 grant will make it possible for the city to replace the 25-year-old Date Street Lift Station. The existing one is severely corroded and requires replacement of pumps and valves. Funding will be used to acquire additional property to accommodate the wet well area and to replace approximately one-half mile of asbestos cement pipe constructed in 1959.

“I am pleased the federal government investing in Tucumcari, making important upgrades to its wastewater system,” Bingaman said.

Funds were provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program. The loans will be paid back over 40 years at an interest rate of 4.5 percent