Coram utility district gets federal funding for improvements

The Coram County Water and Sewer District will soon be making several improvements thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.

The district plans to use a $103,000 grant and $607,000 loan to construct a 200,000-gallon water tank that will meet Montana Department of Environmental Quality requirements and future water demand through 2037 and will also purchase a backup generator to be installed at the pumphouse.

USDA’s investment will leverage an additional $500,000 from the Treasure State Endowment Program and $170,000 from the District.

USDA Montana State Director Charles Robison met with District leaders and the project engineer at the Coram-West Glacier Volunteer Fire Department station and toured the Coram project on Friday.

The new water storage tank constructed with USDA funds will provide needed fire-suppression capacity for the community.

Robinson announced the USDA is investing $19.3 million to improve rural Montana water and wastewater infrastructure and has funded six projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. USDA’s investments in rural Montana leveraged an additional $24.48 million in state, local and other funds to build critical infrastructure. Other Montana communities to receive funding included Belgrade, Harlem, Poplar, Whitehall and Wilsall.