'What we needed': Iowa town fights water issues with the help of USDA aid
Parts of rural Iowa are getting national attention to address water issues. The USDA awarded more than $4.7 million to several rural communities to help with water and health care.We went to Macedonia, which has been in a drought for over three years and is receiving some of this assistance.“There are a lot of people who are really wanting this town to remain what it is,” Mayor Melia Clark said.But the water shortage runs the town. “This year, when we started to get a little bit more rain, it wasn’t nearly enough to make up for what we had lost,” Clark said, adding she can’t recall the last time they had a good downpour.They’ve been under a Level 1 water advisory for over a year.“No watering after 8 in the morning, no watering after 8 at night,” Clark said. “A lot of restrictions on water use.”City Clerk Liz Alff said there’s new hope for Macedonia.“It’s exciting that we’re one step closer to keeping the town going and the infrastructure strong,” Alff said.After putting in long hours to apply for this USDA award and knowing there was a slim chance they’d be selected, Macedonia was granted almost $580,000 for a brand-new shallow well.“I’m proud of Liz because we’re very fortunate to have a city clerk who can do this kind of work and stick with it,” Mayor Clark said.The money will take care of the entire project, and the new well will accompany two others that the town already has.“That’s just what we needed,” Clark said. “We were really happy to be able to do it independently.”The people in Macedonia believe in doing the work within town borders.“I’ve watched so many small towns just crumble,” Alff said. “So, when I came here, my goal was to improve and keep the town going.”The bidding starts now, with the hope of completing the water well project by the fall of next year. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Parts of rural Iowa are getting national attention to address water issues.
The USDA awarded more than $4.7 million to several rural communities to help with water and health care.
We went to Macedonia, which has been in a drought for over three years and is receiving some of this assistance.
“There are a lot of people who are really wanting this town to remain what it is,” Mayor Melia Clark said.
But the water shortage runs the town.
“This year, when we started to get a little bit more rain, it wasn’t nearly enough to make up for what we had lost,” Clark said, adding she can’t recall the last time they had a good downpour.
They’ve been under a Level 1 water advisory for over a year.
“No watering after 8 in the morning, no watering after 8 at night,” Clark said. “A lot of restrictions on water use.”
City Clerk Liz Alff said there’s new hope for Macedonia.
“It’s exciting that we’re one step closer to keeping the town going and the infrastructure strong,” Alff said.
After putting in long hours to apply for this USDA award and knowing there was a slim chance they’d be selected, Macedonia was granted almost $580,000 for a brand-new shallow well.
“I’m proud of Liz because we’re very fortunate to have a city clerk who can do this kind of work and stick with it,” Mayor Clark said.
The money will take care of the entire project, and the new well will accompany two others that the town already has.
“That’s just what we needed,” Clark said. “We were really happy to be able to do it independently.”
The people in Macedonia believe in doing the work within town borders.
“I’ve watched so many small towns just crumble,” Alff said. “So, when I came here, my goal was to improve and keep the town going.”
The bidding starts now, with the hope of completing the water well project by the fall of next year.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |