Lake Verde Water Company serves 68 households in Camp Verde — over 100 individuals that, thanks to a $125,000 loan via the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, will soon have fewer reasons to worry about water quality.
According to the New York Times’ Toxic Waters project, tests conducted in 2005 found arsenic levels to be 10.75 parts per billion, above the health limit of 2 ppb and the legal limit of 10 ppb. Testing found another four contaminants — barium, chromium, nitrate and selenium — below the health limit and legal limit.
On April 19, WIFA stated that the problem of arsenic has continued and that there are current inadequate storage violations on the record.
“WIFA financing will be used for critical infrastructure improvements to Lake Verde’s drinking water system, including the installation of a centralized arsenic treatment system and a 30,000-gallon storage tank,” stated WIFA Communications Director Susan Craig in a press release.
“After evaluating the water company’s financial situation and its ability to afford this loan, WIFA’s Board of Directors approved $100,000 in forgivable principal to cover a large portion of the project cost. The forgivable principal provided by WIFA allows Lake Verde Water Company to make these vital infrastructure improvements for one-third the cost and lessen the economic impact to the company’s customers, the ratepayers and residents of Lake Verde.”
WIFA CFO Trish Incognito said that it is her organization’s goal to first offer assistance to communities in the greatest need.
“This loan is the perfect example of the value WIFA can provide to Arizona’s communities. Because Lake Verde has a critical need to reduce arsenic in their drinking water, and is a small community with financial challenges, we are able to provide an even lower-costing loan.”
A state agency tasked with “protecting public health and promoting environmental quality through financial assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure,” WIFA provides funding for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects designed to ensure potable water and proper wastewater treatment. WIFA has invested over $2 billion in Arizona’s communities in the last 25 years.
For more information, go to the agency’s website.
