Papaikou’s Aging Water System Gets $7.5 Million Boost

The US Department of Agriculture is providing $7.5 million to replace aging water infrastructure in Papaikou.

The funding from the USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program comes in the form of a $3.4 million grant and a $4.1 million loan. The loan will be repaid by the county Department of Water Supply through its capital improvement funds.

According to the DWS, the project involves replacing nearly three miles of pipe ranging from four inches to 12 inches in diameter.

While some of the pipes were installed in the 1960s and 1970s, much of the system dates to the early 1900s.

Water Supply officials say the pipe replacement is expected to get underway in mid-2014.

The funding is part of $203 million the USDA is providing to finance 74 water and infrastructure projects in 40 states.

More than 200,000 residents in rural areas of the US will benefit from the projects, the USDA said.