The Town of Mammoth has received a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program to make major improvements to its aging water system, a project that marks one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the town’s most recent history.
The funding will be used to repair and replace key components of the water system, including upgrades to the booster station that will improve overall water flow and pressure throughout the community. These upgrades will enhance reliability, reduce water loss, and strengthen the system’s ability to meet the community’s long-term needs. The project will mostly impact the north side of town. Most importantly, this project will also aid the Town with improving fire protection, as the improved pressure will give firefighters the water pressure they need to fight fires safely and efficiently.
For the last five years, the Town has been investing its general fund dollars to repair components of the water system. Inflationary costs have forced the Town to modify some of the original plans that this grant was expected to cover. Thankfully, there are opportunities to work around the existing pumps to rebuild the system, which will allow the project to proceed, explained Town Clerk Hector Moreno. One of the key projects over the last few years was installing isolation systems, which would allow the staff to work on the system without having to turn the whole system off.
Mayor Ernie Bustamante and Moreno both explained that the Town has been working on this extensive project for many years. Both explained that staffing changes at the Town of Mammoth, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and USDA created many delays to finalize this grant award.
“This project is a tremendous win for Mammoth,” said Mayor Bustamante.
The Mammoth Town Council selected KENG as the contractor for the project following a competitive process. KENG will oversee construction, ensuring that the upgrades meet federal and local standards for quality and safety.
Bill Hernandez, the Town’s Public Works Manager, thanked the Mayor, Town Council, and Town Manager for supporting this project. He explained that the aging system often requires large-scale repairs, but this new system will help to make much-needed repairs to ensure the system has a long life and will help to stop water leakage from old pipes .
Town officials emphasized that there will be no rate increases as a result of these improvements, a key priority for the council as it worked to secure funding sources that would not burden residents. This current grant will also pay off a previous loan from RCAC. RCAC is a finance servicer for USDA government infrastructure loans.
Construction is expected to begin once final engineering and environmental reviews are completed. Residents will be notified before work begins through updates on the Mammoth Public Library’s Facebook page and via flyers posted at Town Hall and other public gathering places. The construction is expected to take 6-8 months to fully complete.
“This is more than just an infrastructure project,” added Mayor Bustamante. “It’s an investment in our community’s health, safety, and future. We are rebuilding the town.”
Note: This interview and council approvals were conducted prior to the recent federal government shutdown. Work may still be able to move forward but could be slowed until the government re-opens due to staff at the USDA needing to approve certain aspects of the project or process reimbursements. There is no estimated timeline on when Congress will vote on a budget to re-open the federal government.