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Earth Day 2003: Johnsburg Sanitary District, Wisconsin

Loan:   $2,050,000
Grant:     $500,000

Other:*   $750,000 (CDBG)

* Outside Funding Source

Total:    $3,300,000

Outline of Need:

There are 104 on-site septic systems in the Johnsburg Sanitary District; 65 of these systems have been determined to be failing. Another 21 systems were classified as having "indirect evidence of need" based on shallow bedrock, high groundwater or proximity to other failing systems. The Johnsburg Sanitary District area has a long history of documented problems with the on-site systems including surface discharge, direct discharge to the South Branch of the Manitowc River and potable water well contamination.

How Rural Development Helped:

Rural Development, along with Wisconsin Department of Commerce provided financing to construct a new wastewater collection system with regional treatment by the City of Fond du Lac. Funds include a $2,050,000 loan, $500,000 grant from Rural Development and a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant. The funds will be used to install pressure and gravity sewer service mains, force main and gravity discharge to transfer wastewater to the Fond du Lac collection system.

The Results:

The creation of the wastewater collection and regional treatment will eliminate unsanitary conditions the residents have endured for many years. The system will eliminate the discharge of raw sewage and septic tank effluent being discharged to ditches, ground surface and ground water. This will improve the quality of life for these rural residents by alleviating the unsanitary conditions that currently exist. This project will improve the environment, as it will stop the discharge of raw sewage into the South Branch of the Manitowoc River. The project will also stop the contamination of potable well water.

Thank you poster from students: thank you Rural Development for cleaning up our environment Rural Development and Johnsburg Sanitary District officials pictured with elementary school students who followed this project in their social studies class

Pictured, above:  (L) Students from Johnsburg Consolidated Parochial Elementary School made thank-you posters for Rural Development, after following the wastewater treatment plant project as part of their civics and social studies class; (R) Stan GUtilities Programszynski, left, public affairs director for Rural Development in Wisconsin; and Virginia Morgan, Rural Development Wisconsin loan specialist, received a thank you card from Franz Schmitz, Johnsburg Sanitary District Chairperson, and Johnsburg Consolidated Parochial Elementary School sixth-graders Kari Ausloos, Maggie Schoenborn and Jordan Lefeber, for the $500,000 grant for wastewater treatment in Johnsburg. This "Earth Day Project of the Year" was selected by the State of Wisconsin and recognized on Earth Day.

Earth Day 2003 Home Page


 

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